BYU brought in Carsen Ryan, so they better feed him
The well-traveled tight end began his college career before transferring to Utah, and now BYU.
He’s got to get more catches in Provo, doesn’t he?
A three-school journey, from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City and now Provo, has brought a 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end to BYU’s offense with designs that this former four-star Utah high school athlete will make a significant contribution.
How will BYU’s offense utilize Utah/UCLA transfer tight end Carsen Ryan?
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At Utah in 2024, Ryan made 10 catches for 113 yards and one touchdown. He operated in an offense that struggled after projected starting quarterback Cam Rising injured his hand against Baylor early in the season.
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Will Ryan get more production in Aaron Roderick’s offense in 2025 as a transfer portal addition to the Cougars roster?
Will Ryan get more production in Aaron Roderick’s offense in 2025 as a transfer portal addition to the Cougars roster?
Yes.
Roderick needs Ryan’s size, speed, maturity and hands in his offense. He needs a safe, big athletic target as he breaks in a QB to replace Jake Retzlaff.
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Suddenly, those short routes out of the backfield, those quick hitters out of motion sets, those middle-of-the-field crossing routes and quick curls, digs and hooks at the linebacker level are safe calls, and part of BYU tradition.
He needs defenses to worry about more than covering Chase Roberts and other receivers when he aggressively sends them deep to stretch the field. He needs Ryan in pro pass protection.
What’s the over/under for Ryan’s receptions, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30?
Well, let’s break it down.
In a receiver-oriented passing attack in 2024, converted receiver tight end Keanu Hill had 12 catches. Ryan has to have more than 12, or why bring him in with NIL money?
BYU’s defense had 22 interceptions last year, three each by Jakob Robinson, Tanner Wall and Isaiah Glasker. Ryan just has to get more catches than defensive players did in 2024, right?
Roberts led BYU in receiving with 52 catches, followed by Darius Lassiter’s 45 and Keelan Marion at 24. Parker Kingston had 13, even though he was used a lot as a jet sweep threat.
Ryan isn’t going to get 52 catches. That’s an unreasonable expectation even if BYU has had seasons where the tight end was a huge emphasis, such as with Dennis Pitta (83 in 2008 and 62 in 2009), Mitch Mathews (73 in 2014), Chris Smith (68 in 1990), Gordon Hudson (67 in 1981 and 1982) and Jonny Harline (63 in 2005).
The use of the tight end is almost a necessity to help QBs, as proven by Steve Young (Hudson), Detmer (Smith), Max Hall (Pitta). But they have to be physical and fast, and have some height and good hands.
Roderick knows this as well as anyone.
Perhaps this is what he sold four-star 2026 class recruit Brock Harris (Pine View High) to get him to commit to the Cougars this past spring. Harris is the No. 5 tight end recruit in the country and No. 2 recruit in Utah, according to 247 Sports.
