Wondering what the Cyclones are up to this spring and need to scratch that football itch? We've got some good news for you with a preview of the Iowa State tight ends.

The Cyclones have developed their tight end unit into one of the finest nationally in recent years, and the production out of the tight ends in 2020 was no exception. 

Iowa State led the nation in overall catches by tight ends with 82 and was second in the country in receiving yards (1,057). 

The top-three tight ends for the Cyclones in 2020 were each All-Big 12 performers, and only one won't return in Dylan Soehner. Soehner will be missed. He had 18 catches for 205 yards, but his outstanding blocking ability was a key element in ISU's formidable ground game. 

But the group will yet again be a force because of the return of Charlie Kolar (6-6, 257, Sr.#, Norman, Okla) and Chase Allen (6-7, 240, Sr.#, Nixa, Mo.). 

Kolar, who spurned a chance to go to the NFL, will return as one of the best tight ends nationally and arguably the greatest tight end in the history of Cyclone football. 

The two-time All-American was one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award in 2020, racking up stellar statistics for the second consecutive season as Purdy's favorite target. 

Kolar's incredible hands and outstanding routes creates a mismatch with his size. He ranked in the top-five nationally among FBS tight ends in receptions (44, 5th), receiving yards (591, 3rd) and touchdown catches (7, 2nd) in 11 games played. 

He owns the top-two season receiving yard totals for a Cyclone tight end and has the most career receptions (106), receiving yards (1,425) and touchdown catches (17) by a tight end in school history. 

His 17 touchdown catches ranks fourth overall in school history and enters his senior season with 24-straight games with a reception, the fourth-longest streak in school history. 

Kolar is a valuable security blanket for Purdy, who has thrown 16 of his career 62 touchdown passes to the All-American. In 2020, 35 of his 44 receptions resulted in first downs or touchdowns and he was on the receiving end of 15 third down conversions. 

Unfairly overshadowed by Kolar is three-time All-Big 12 Second Team selection Chase Allen. Allen, who decided to come back for his super senior season, has had an excellent career of his own. 

Allen, who owns 23 career starts, has 48 career receptions, the 10th-most by a Cyclone tight end in school history. Allen had 19 catches for 236 yards in 2020, giving the Cyclones one of the best tight end tandems in the country. 

Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning, who coached the tight ends in 2020 and was the leader of the Indianapolis Colts tight end unit in 2018, isn't afraid to use three-tight end formations. 

Finding a third tight end will be important this spring, and the Cyclone coaches feel there is a lot of talent coming up in Easton Dean (6-6, 251, So.#, Oswego, Kan.) and DeShawn Hanika (6-6, 236, So.#, Topeka, Kan.). 

Dean came in as a QB, but the staff saw potential for him as a tight end and made the position switch. His lone catch in 2020 went for 25 yards.  

Hanika was an all-city wide receiver who had over 1,000 receiving yards in his final season as a prep. He's added pounds to his tall frame and is an excellent athlete, earning all-state honors in basketball. 

Another promising talent is Tyler Moore (6-5, 243, Fr., Des Moines, Iowa), a four-star recruit who joined the team in the spring as an early enrollee. Moore was a first-team all-stater who was listed as the 13th-best tight end nationally by 247Sports. 

Walk-on Jared Rus (6-2, 232, Jr.#, Eldridge, Iowa) has moved his way up as a candidate at the F position. He filled in admirably for Soehner as a blocking back in the West Virginia game when Soehner was sidelined with an injury. 

Campbell On The Tight Ends
"To have both Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen decide to come back is huge because you know both of those guys give so much to our program, not just in terms of what they do on the field, but who they are off the field. There is also talent that exists in that room that is really young. You got Easton Dean, who we are really excited about, Deshawn Hanika, another exciting player, and Jared Rus, who really stepped in and played really good football for us in the stretch run of November and December. I think there is a lot of general excitement, and then obviously you get your Tyler Moore coming in and feel like here is a young guy that has shown he can be an exciting football player. There is general excitement about that entire position group, and I think you got guys that have done it and know what the expectations and standards are at the top, and then you have some really exciting young guys to watch grow and develop from now until the start of the football season."