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?
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.
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.
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.
And remember that rival Utah has been emphasizing this for the past several years with tight end coach Fred Whittingham, who was in the offense with Detmer and Smith at BYU in the late 1980s and ’90s.
BYU needs to get back in the tight end business and has neglected it since Isaac Rex tied for the NCAA touchdown total by a tight end (12) in 2020. In his healthy seasons, 2020 and 2023, Rex had 37 and 34 receptions, respectively.
In 2025, expect Ryan to get more touches because he needs to be targeted. With talented upperclassman LJ Martin coming back, look for him to be called upon to take on a significant load to help whoever comes in at QB. He’ll certainly get passes thrown his way on delay and wheel routes out of the backfield.
But it is reasonable to put targets for Ryan higher than Hill got last year when Roberts and Lassiter were the main guys for Retzlaff.
If he performs at a high level, Ryan should triple his receptions from last season at Utah, and the over/under would be over 30.
Ryan would like that.
Following last Friday’s practice, Ryan said he’s ready and anxious for his number to be called.
“I definitely like coming out for quick out route, but I like a bit of a dig route and some seam routes. I like going over the middle. I’ll do whatever I can do to make it easy for the quarterbacks. I feel I can get open and get through my breaks and create space — that’s my favorite stuff,” said Ryan.
Losing Retzlaff after all that invested time was a downer, admits Ryan, and the entire offense feels it. But it’s also forced everyone to work harder and try to help by performing their parts more effectively every practice.
“They (the QBs) have been getting better each day. We have to work on the chemistry every day and allow them to develop and figure out who will start. It’s our job to help with the timing, be in the right spot and position so the quarterback doesn’t have to call it out and can focus on his reads and progressions.
“We just want to get better each day, and that’s all you can ask for right now.”
Ryan said he’s telling the truth when he declares he doesn’t know who the favorite for quarterback is right now.
“They’ve all shown a lot of great stuff, they are great guys and it’s a close battle right now. I can’t say who it will be. Anyone can take it.”
In the tight end room, Ryan hopes senior Ethan Erickson quickly returns from nursing an injury, because he’s experienced with the offense and his knowledge is valuable. Ryan believes freshman Noah Moeaki and New Mexico transfer Keayen Nead will be contributors and credits both for being good blockers in 12 personnel sets.
Yes, Ryan is a quick-fix transfer for BYU’s offense, a move Roderick made to enhance that position group. The investment was pitched and made. Roderick did find Rex 12 touchdown catches a few years ago with 37 catches.
Now, how will he use Ryan?
