Steve Curtis June 22nd, 2026
Production at the tight end position at Oklahoma has been limited since Brent Venables was hired as head coach in November 2021. For the most part, that has been the result of a room plagued by some combination of undersized players, underproduction and a lack of competitive depth.
The lone exception to that pattern was Brayden Willis in 2022. During Venables’ first season, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end hauled in 514 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. But from there, it was all downhill.
Over the next three seasons, the leading tight end from each year combined for roughly 1,000 receiving yards and just three touchdowns.
To rectify the lack of sizable, productive tight ends, Oklahoma parted ways with long-time tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley in favor of former Dallas Cowboys legend and one of the most productive tight ends in NFL history, Jason Witten.
Upon Witten’s arrival, Oklahoma saw a massive overhaul at the position, saying farewell to multiple players through the transfer portal. In their place came three transfers: Hayden Hansen from Florida, Rocky Beers from Colorado State and Jack Van Dorselaer from Tennessee.
All three fit the physical mold of an SEC tight end, standing at least 6-foot-4 and weighing 235-pounds or more.
The primary function of this new-look room is simple: dominate at the line of scrimmage and produce in the red zone.
Witten made a career out of doing exactly that, and judging by the physical profiles and talents of his three newcomers, each appears capable of making an impact in 2026.
Hansen checks in at 6-foot-8, 270-pounds and started more than 30 games at Florida. His size made him an excellent inline tight end during his three seasons with the Gators, where his blocking helped support traditional rushing attacks that consistently produced more than 1,500 yards.
With his size and experience, coupled with guidance from one of the best to ever play the position, Hansen appears primed to become a major contributor in Oklahoma’s run game.
Elsewhere in the room is perhaps the biggest receiving threat. At 6-foot-4, 235-pounds, Rocky Beers was productive despite playing in a lackluster Colorado State offense, recording 388 yards and seven touchdowns on 31 receptions in 2025.
He may not touch the ball often, but when he does, he makes it count. That was on display during the spring game, when he led the Red Team with four receptions for 65 yards.
That’s something the Sooners have lacked in recent years: a big-bodied target who can show up in high-leverage moments and barrel forward for extra yards, especially in the red zone.
Finally, there is Jack Van Dorselaer, the former Tennessee Volunteer who saw action last season as a true freshman. He offers something of a hybrid between Hansen and Beers, combining reliable blocking with dynamic pass-catching ability.
He may be the youngest of the group, but that could ultimately work in his favor. While Hansen and Beers should make an immediate impact, Van Dorselaer has the time to develop into the most accomplished of Witten’s three transfer additions by the end of his Oklahoma career.
Taken together, the Sooners’ tight end room looks vastly different than it did a year ago. More importantly, it finally looks built for the SEC, with two of its newcomers already having proven they can contribute at that level.
Between Hansen, Beers and Van Dorselaer, along with returning Sooners Kade McIntyre and Trynae Washington providing valuable depth, the position group has all the pieces necessary to become one of the SEC’s most improved units in 2026.
