As we hit the preview portion of the 2023 FCS offseason, HERO Sports will rank the top returning players by position group.
While what happens on the field and how things finish at the end of the season is what really matters, preseason rankings give fans an idea of what players and teams they should keep an eye on.
Here are the top returning tight ends in 2023.
These rankings are formed by a combination of the author’s opinion/FCS knowledge (watching guys play, knowing what system they play in, strength of opponents, etc.), on-field production, pro potential, postseason accolades, how they perform against their toughest opponents, and PFF grades.
Best Returning FCS Tight Ends
25. Mason Gilbert, Lafayette
24. Travon Jones, Northwestern State
23. Joe Stoffel, North Dakota State
22. Alec Pell, Northern Colorado
21. Derek Kline, San Diego
20. Hayden Meacham, Weber State
19. Noah Canty, Stonehill
18. Sean Morris, Holy Cross
17. Lee Negrotto, Nicholls
16. Jihad Edmond, Bryant
15. Treyton Pickering, Montana State
14. Tyler Neville, Harvard
13. Alex Allen, Northern Iowa
12. Ivan Drobocky, Southeastern Louisiana University
11. Pat Conroy, Merrimack
10. DJ Nelson, UT Martin
9. Matt Robbert, Cornell
8. Kyle Lepkowski, New Hampshire
7. Derryk Snell, Montana State
6. DJ Stevens, Jackson State
The Top 5
5. Cole Grossman, Montana
Grossman has had back-to-back strong seasons for Montana with the skill and potential to be a star in 2023. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is a two-time Honorable Mention All-Big Sky selection, a 2021 Freshman All-American, and a 2022 Sophomore All-American. Grossman caught 36 passes for 463 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. Last year, he recorded 28 catches for 397 yards and five scores.
4. Owen Glascoe, LIU
Glascoe has the size of a strong run-blocking tight end and the athleticism of an elite pass-catching tight end. His abilities make him a legit pro prospect heading into his senior year. Glascoe had 36 receptions for 555 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. At 6-foot-4, 258 pounds, he became a bigger pass-catching threat last season, hauling in 62 passes for 610 yards and five scores as a First Team All-NEC selection.
3. Shawn Bowman, Maine
Bowman has been a special talent for Maine dating back to 2019 when he caught 22 passes for 219 yards and a score as a Freshman All-American. In the 2021 spring season when Maine played only four games, he totaled nine catches for 82 yards and a TD. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder has since had back-to-back All-CAA Third Team seasons. Bowman had 24 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns in 2021, then 31 receptions for 277 yards and five scores in 2022.
2. Zach Heins, South Dakota State
Heins is a key part of SDSU’s powerful running game as a blocker while being one of the biggest mismatches on the field at 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds. He is a three-time All-MVFC selection, including 2022 Second Team honors. Heins had 24 catches for 232 yards and six touchdowns in 2021 and then recorded 29 receptions for 247 yards and four scores last season for the national champion Jackrabbits.
1. Marshel Martin, Sacramento State
Martin is a pass-catching machine for Sac State. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he is a tight end but has the after-catch abilities of a big wide receiver. A Freshman All-American and Second Team All-Big Sky selection back in 2019, Martin caught 39 passes for 550 yards and seven touchdowns. After nearly two years of not playing a game due to COVID canceling Sac State’s season, he came back stronger in 2021 with 53 catches for 649 yards and six TDs. Last season was even better, tallying 65 receptions for 879 yards and 12 scores as PFF’s highest-graded FCS tight end (88.4). Martin has earned back-to-back All-Conference First Team honors and has been named to five different All-American teams in the last two seasons.
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