We are 33 days away until Iowa State kicks off the season against Kansas State in Ireland. To keep getting you prepared for the season, we will continue with out position previews every weekday through July 25. Next up is a group with tons of potential to be one of the best in the Big 12: tight ends.
Returners
Benjamin Brahmer (Jr.)
Had 10 catches for 179 yards and one touchdown in 2024 before getting injured and missing the last six games of the regular season. Was named a Freshman All-American by 247Sports and The Athletic in 2023 with 352 yards and two touchdowns.
Gabe Burkle (RS Jr.)
Broke out in 2024 with 26 catches for 296 yards and one touchdown as a redshirt sophomore, finishing with the third most yards on the team.
Tyler Moore (RS Sr.)
Recorded six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in 2024. Has 14 catches in his career at Iowa State.
Tripp Walsh (RS So.)
Played in 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2024 on both special teams and offense.
Cooper Alexander (RS Fr.)
The highly-touted recruit suffered a season-ending injury in his first game as a Cyclone against North Dakota in 2024. Was the No. 12 ranked tight end nationally in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports.
Vince Benetti (RS So.)
Appeared on special teams in 13 games in 2024.
Jack Bjorn (RS Jr.)
Appeared in nine games on special teams in 2024.
Keaton Roskop (RS Fr.)
Redshirted as a true freshman in 2024. Saw action in one game.
Cash Hayden (RS Fr.)
Redshirted as a true freshman in 2024.
Additions
None
Departures
Stevo Klotz
Graduated. 15 catches in two years as a starter. Was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 in 2023 and 2024.
Andrew Keller
Medically retired. Suffered season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024.
Season Outlook
There is plenty of continuity and tons of potential in this year’s group of tight ends. Losing Stevo Klotz is a big loss in the running game but the return of Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle and other is really important to soften the blow of losing two 1,000+ yard receivers by giving Rocco Becht a couple of familiar faces.
Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews early at the wide receiver position, Iowa State’s tight ends could be poised to see a lot more targets in 2025.
Brahmer is Back
One of Iowa State’s top weapons didn’t get the chance to shine to his fullest potential in 2024 due to injury. Ben Brahmer suffered a leg injury against UCF on Oct. 19 and missed the rest of the regular season. While he did return for the Big 12 Championship, he was clearly not healthy.
Because of that injury, Brahmer was never able to live up to his really good freshman season. The good news is that he’s now healthy and very well could be Rocco Becht’s top target in 2025-26.
I’m on record that I fully expect Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend to be elite wide receivers in Ames. Will that happen immediately? There’s certainly a chance, but I wouldn’t count on them being 100% established in week one. In my eyes, that makes Ben Brahmer the top target on the offense to open the season. I fully expect a monster year out of Brahmer. One that proves that he certainly has potential in the future as an NFL tight end.
Burkle’s Breakout
Gabe Burkle’s late season emergence was one that came out of nowhere to a lot of people. Burkle entered the November of the 2024 season with just two catches. He then exploded the last seven games of the season and finished with the third most catches on the team at 26.
How does Iowa State handle having a red-hot Burkle with another big time player in Brahmer? It’s certainly a good problem to have. I would expect to see a lot of 12 personnel (two tight end sets) and for Iowa State to rely on the steadiness of the tight end room. Think the 1-2 punch of Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen. The combo of Burkle and Brahmer is just going to make life easier for the talented and unproven wide receiver room as they gel.
Who’s the New H-Back?
Maybe the most important position on Iowa State’s offense that doesn’t get the credit they deserve. The H-Back is essentially a hybrid between another tight end and a full back. They are mainly used in run blocking and heavier sets but are very capable of catching a handful of passes each season. ISU has had a pretty strong run of H-backs from Stevo Klotz to Jared Rus to Dylan Soehner and Sam Seonbuchner. Those are all players that played pivotal roles in their time and there’s no doubt that Klotz will be a big loss, especially considering how much Iowa State has struggled to run the ball if he missed games with injury.
Tyler Moore is the most experienced player in the room outside of Brahmer and Burkle, but he still probably fits in as a more traditional tight end. Cooper Alexander is thought really highly of in the program and will have hard time being kept off of the field, so this could be a spot to get him some reps. I’d also look for Tripp Walsh to someone that could emerge into this role. Whoever steps in could become an unsung hero for the Cyclone rushing attack.
We will continue our position previews on CycloneFanatic.com. You can check out our previews for the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and the offensive line at those links.