Positional analysis: Arizona State's tight ends primed for huge 2025 season

One of the most versatile positions on a football field is the tight end, which is why the position has been making a sort of resurgence in college football after initially being phased out by the advent of the spread offense. 

For Arizona State and offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, the tight end position has been a crucial part of what they do, allowing for plus run blocking while also still presenting a threat in the passing game. 

Starter Chamon Metayer returns alongside some transfers and incoming freshmen, making for a stacked position group ahead of the 2025 season. Our own Andrew Hayslett and David Howman break it all down. 

Hayslett: My bold prediction for the Sun Devils is that they'll run a lot of two-tight-end sets this year, because of their great depth at the position. Metayer will likely have the starting role and see a chunk of action as quarterback Sam Leavitt’s second favorite target behind Jordyn Tyson. I expect Metayer to be used a lot in the red zone.

Freshman AJ Ia had an outstanding spring and will learn and develop from the experienced Metayer. Ia will likely be the starting tight end in the 2027 season, but that is a long way down the road, and things could change. He will see time in the number two slot, possibly sharing it with others.

Howman: I’m expecting a ton of multiple tight end sets, too. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo found something special late in the season with his usage of several pistol formation packages, particularly in the red zone, where he flooded the field with tight ends. 

Now, Arroyo has even more talented tight ends to work with. Metayer came on strong last season, and Kentucky transfer Khamari Anderson flashed a ton during spring practices. As you noted, true freshman Ia did as well, and Kenny Dillingham noted during the spring that it’ll be hard to keep him off the field, even though the staff would surely love to preserve his redshirt this year. 

Then there’s Cameron Harpole, who returns after seeing most of his work last year as a secondary blocking tight end. By all accounts, Harpole has improved as a pass-catcher but still offers his best value as a blocker. Still, that’s four tight ends that all have value to add on the field, and it’s Arroyo’s job to figure out how to deploy them all. 

Hayslett: The culture that the offensive staff has brought to the tight ends and wide receivers is that if you block, you will get the ball thrown to you. This will help the running back room as they will still likely be used in a significant role. In this crowded tight ends room, that will help guys like Harpole see more action. 

Anderson did not see much action at Kentucky and hopes to see that rise significantly. Anderson had a few big plays in the spring, and there is a chance he becomes the Sun Devils' number two tight end.

Like you said, it will be hard for the staff to preserve Ia’s redshirt year as he is a dynamic playmaker, as we saw in spring practices. He is the guy that excites me the most.

Howman: For me, this all points back to tight ends coach Jason Mohns. A coaching legend at the high school level in Arizona, Mohns is perceived by many to have a bright future still, and his impressive work thus far with these tight ends should only continue to boost his stock. 

At the Big 12 Football Media Days, Dillingham shared that the offense is planning to be more aggressive this year with early down passing, and he specifically pointed to the tight end position as something that will make it easier for them to successfully throw out of run looks and run out of passing looks. 

At this point, I’ll be very surprised if we don’t see the Sun Devils make heavy use of all these tight ends. They’ve certainly amassed the talent to do it, and the versatility of the position opens up so many possibilities for this offense going forward.