From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Houston TE Tanner Koziol.
No. 9 Tanner Koziol/TE Houston – 6064, 247 pounds (Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Tanner Koziol 6064/247 9 3/4 33 3/4 83 7/8″
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.70 1.62 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’2″ 36.5 N/A
The Good
– Great build and length
– Sure hands and consistently catches away from his body
– Go-to guy on third down and red zone, primary target in gotta-have-it moments
– Large catch radius and able to make difficult combat catches, plays like a power forward to gup and get the football
– Nice feel for zone coverage and finding soft spots in defense
– Versatile and moved around formation, some experience as in-line tight end asked to occasionally pass protect
– Functional blocker with good effort, can pin down DEs and pull up through the hole
– Consistent tape and steady player
– Excellent starting and playing experience with uncommon production for position
The Bad
– Average athlete, not much explosiveness or threat downfield
– Size helps him fall forward but isn’t massive YAC threat
– Struggles to pull across formation on split flow concepts, too easily rocked back by EMOL
– Feet can go dead on contact as run blocker and can play over his toes, causing him to lose blocks
– Route tree consisted mostly of short and intermediate routes (slants, OTB, outs, occasional skinny post)
– Needs to show more aggression and nasty/toughness on tape at point of attack
Stats
– Career: 237 receptions for 2,234 yards (9.4 YPR) and 24 touchdowns across 49 games
– 2025: 74 receptions for 727 yards (9.8 YPR) and 6 touchdowns across 13 games; receptions led entire Big 12
– Had 94 receptions in 2024, sixth in NCAA
– 2,496 career offensive snaps (856 in 2025)
– PFF’s No. 9 offensive grade of 173 qualifying tight ends (No. 5 receiver)
– No. 69 pass block grade of 85 qualifiers, No. 75 run blocker
– Two drops in 2025, 10 for career
– 6.9 ADOT in 2025 (95th of 173 qualifiers)
– Forced two missed tackles in 2025, 11 year before
– 35 receptions and 13 touchdowns as HS senior, 22 career HS touchdowns
– 16 career college games of 7-plus catches with three 100-plus yard outings
Injury History
– 2025: Battled unspecified injuries after transferring to Wisconsin, head coach called him “dinged up”
– 2025: Left knee injury in opener against Stephen F. Austin, returned to game wearing brace but hobbled, did not miss the next week
– 2025: Possible concussion in October against Oklahoma State but didn’t miss following game
Bio
– Turned 22 years old in January, 2026
– Two-star recruit from Bloomingdale, Illinois
– Spent 2022-2024 at Ball State, transferred to Houston for 2025 season
– Ball State was only D-I offer, chose them over North Dakota, San Diego, and Valparaiso; committed to ND as HS junior but changed mind, not wanting to be so far away from home
– Light HS recruit whose cousin helped him send out “500” recruiting pitches to coaches
– Transferred after Ball State coaching change and committed to Wisconsin in December but absent from spring practices and hit portal April; committed to Houston days after
– 2024 All MAC Second-Team (behind Harold Fannin Jr.), 2025 All Big 12 Second-Team
– Senior captain of HS team
– Avid golfer who shoots in the low 70s
– Cousin was All-American at University of Chicago while another cousin kicked at Indiana
– 2026 Senior Bowl participant
– Grew up on swim team and played volleyball through middle school; kept basketball (PF/C) and baseball through high school along with football
– Grew up fan of Cam Newton and models game after Greg Olsen but also watches receivers like Garrett Wilson to improve releases when split out
– Once said he’d choose Aaron Rodgers if he could talk to anyone
– One-time high school teammate of QB J.J. McCarthy at Nazareth Academy (Koziol attended three high schools, transferring to Mt. Vernon in Indiana for senior season due to COVID)
Tape Breakdown
Tanner Koziol has bounced around a lot of places. Three high schools and three colleges, if you include his brief stint at Wisconsin. But on tape, he’s as steady and even-keeled as they come.
A well-rounded player, Koziol has sure hands and plays like the big man he was for his high school basketball team. He’s been making great grabs since high school. Check out this one-handed snag. He played above the rim in college, too.
Though difficult to quantify, Koziol was his offense’s main target in big-time moments. Third down and red zone, when his unit needed a big play, Koziol was the focus. He has a good feel for zone coverage to sit and settle.
As a blocker, Koziol has size and want-to. There’s enough there to make it functional and acceptable. In space, he can bully defensive backs, though he must be more consistent with his technique to bring his lower half and drive.
He also worked as an in-line tight end out of a three-point stance, making him different than the many “move” tight ends who solely play on their feet at the college level.
Koziol isn’t overly explosive or flashy. His 40 time shows that. As a blocker, he can fall off at the point of attack, especially on split flow concepts.
It’s worth investigating why he left Wisconsin so suddenly, too. Exact reasons are unclear, but some wondered if Koziol liked playing in the Badgers’ physical and pro-style offense.
Conclusion
Overall, Tanner Koziol is a solid prospect with a well-rounded game. Sure hands, good football IQ, an effective-enough blocker. He isn’t dynamic or a major post-catch threat, but he could carve out a long NFL career, so long as he can match the physical and toughness demands of the league and position.
Zach Ertz is the ceiling, but my NFL comp is Tyler Higbee/Cade Otton.
NFL Draft Projection: Mid-Day Three
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 8.0 (Longtime Starter)
Grade Range: 7.2-8.3
Games Watched: vs Arizona (2025), at UCF (2025), Assorted Catch Cut-Ups (2024 and 2025)
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