Tanner Koziol

John Shipley of Sports Illustrated writes that perhaps no Jacksonville Jaguars draft pick "garnered as much buzz" this offseason as fifth-round rookie tight end Tanner Koziol. The Jaguars took Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher in the second round (56th overall) and still have Brenton Strange at the position, but they are expected to involve more multiple-tight-end looks in 2026. Koziol's pass-catching prowess and refinement in the passing game helped him stand out immediately this offseason. In his four years in college (three years at Ball State and one at the University of Houston), he had 237 catches for 2,234 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns in 49 games played. His 74 catches last year with Houston led all TEs nationally, and his 727 receiving yards ranked second. There's no doubting what Koziol can do as a pass-catcher, but it will be hard for him to find playing time in head coach Liam Coen's offensive scheme if he doesn't offer value as a blocker as well. Right now, Koziol is an intriguing long-term prospect for those in dynasty/keeper leagues, but he could open his rookie year as the No. 3 TE in Jacksonville

Tanner Koziol

TE · JAX

analyst

Tanner Koziol - Building early momentum

sleeper-rotowireJun 20, 2026, 5:11 PMSource unavailable

Tanner Koziol

Koziol has been a standout during the early portion of the Jaguars' offseason program, John Shipley of SI.com reports. Koziol, a rookie fifth-round pick, has generated more buzz during spring practices than second-rounder Nate Boerkircher. Tight ends coach Richard Angulo described Koziol as being "a little bit more polished as a pass catcher" and mentioned the rookie's "ball skills and his size and range," at 6-foot-6, 247 pounds. Brenton Strange remains entrenched as Jacksonville's No. 1 tight end, and Boerkircher's blocking ability may give him an edge for the No. 2 role, but Koziol is making an early case for opportunities in Liam Coen's offense, which -- per Garry Smits of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union -- is expected to feature more multi-TE looks in 2026

Tanner Koziol

TE · JAX

Brenton Strange

TE · JAX

+1 players

analyst

Tanner Koziol has Potential Stash Value

sleeper-rotoballerJun 19, 2026, 5:30 PMSource ↗

Tanner Koziol Brenton Strange Nate Boerkircher

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tanner Koziol is likely to begin the season as the third-string option at his position. The Jaguars selected Koziol in the fifth-round of this year's draft out of Houston. This past season, Koziol hauled in 74 receptions for 727 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 13 games at Houston. That was actually a down year for Koziol, who hauled in 94 receptions at Ball State in 2024. The ball skills seem to be there, but there are questions as to whether Koziol can be a reliable blocking tight end. He'll also need to fight for playing time with Brenton Strange and Nate Boerkircher likely ahead of him on the depth chart. Unless an injury happens, Koziol is unlikely to have value right away. He could be a potential stash option for dynasty managers in need of help at tight end

Tanner Koziol

TE · JAX

general

Jaguars draft class: 5 things to know about Tanner Koziol

Yahoo Sports NFLJun 18, 2026, 11:45 PMSource ↗

Tanner Koziol

When the Jacksonville Jaguars selected tight end Tanner Koziol in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, many fans were introduced to him for the first time. Unlike some prospects who arrive with five-star recruiting rankings and household-name college programs on their résumé, Koziol took a much less conventional route to the NFL. His journey included light recruitment out of high school, multiple transfers, record-breaking production, and even a dog named Jaxson who may have seen his Jaguars future before anyone else. As Jacksonville fans get to know one of the newest members of the roster, here are five things you might not know about Tanner Koziol. Every NFL Draft produces a few memorable stories, but Koziol’s might be one of the most unusual. The tight end owns a dog named Jaxson. When Jacksonville called to make him their fifth-round selection, Jaxson was reportedly right there with him to share the moment. The coincidence immediately caught the attention of fans and reporters alike. While the dog’s name obviously predates Koziol’s arrival in Jacksonville, it has quickly become one of the more amusing stories attached to the rookie’s introduction to the NFL. The Jaguars have built a roster full of players with unique journeys and personalities, and Koziol’s canine connection to Jacksonville certainly falls into that category. It’s a light-hearted story, but it also serves as a reminder of how quickly life can change for NFL prospects. One phone call can alter the course of a career. In Koziol’s case, it also happened to create one of the draft’s strangest coincidences. Koziol’s road to Jacksonville was far from conventional. Coming out of high school in Indiana, he was not considered one of the nation’s elite recruits. He attracted relatively modest attention compared to many NFL-bound prospects and originally committed to the University of North Dakota before ultimately signing with Ball State. At the time, few would have predicted that he would eventually become an NFL draft pick. His college journey only became more unusual from there. After establishing himself at Ball State, Koziol entered the transfer portal. Following a breakout season in 2024, he committed to Wisconsin, seemingly setting himself up for a major move to the Big Ten. Instead, after participating in spring practices, he made the surprising decision to leave Madison before ever playing a game for the Badgers. He transferred again, this time landing at Houston . For many players, that amount of movement can derail development. New systems, new coaches and new expectations often make consistency difficult. Instead, Koziol flourished. The move to Houston allowed him to showcase his talents at an even higher level and ultimately helped cement his status as an NFL prospect. Looking back, what appeared to be a winding and uncertain journey turned out to be the perfect route to the Jaguars. Many football players list golf as a hobby, but Tanner Koziol takes it a little further than that. The Jaguars rookie has revealed that he plays to a seven handicap, a level that places him well above the average recreational golfer. While he’s not about to challenge the professionals, a single-digit handicap requires genuine skill, consistency and a significant amount of practice. The connection between golf and football is hardly new. Quarterbacks, kickers and coaches have long gravitated toward the sport because of the focus and precision it demands. For a tight end, however, it provides another interesting glimpse into Koziol’s personality. Golf rewards patience, discipline and an ability to remain composed after mistakes. Those same qualities have clearly served him well throughout a college career that featured transfers, uncertainty and constant adaptation. As he begins his NFL career, Jaguars fans should not be surprised if Koziol eventually becomes one of the team’s most active participants in charity golf events around northeast Florida. A [... truncated ...]

Tanner Koziol

TE · JAX

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