Ordered by receiving yards

2018 70 Rec 921 Yds 5 TD (13 games)
2019 58 Rec 843 Yds 5 TD (13 games)
2020 51 Rec 666 Yds 14 TD (12 games)
2017 61 Rec 638 Yds 4 TD (13 games)
2021 47 Rec 544 Yds 5 TD (13 games)
2023 44 Rec 476 Yds 3 TD (12 games)
2022 42 Rec 462 Yds 8 TD (13 games)
2016 33 Rec 391 Yds 3 TD (13 games)
2024 26 Rec 239 Yds 4 TD (10/13+ games)

The projected end-of-season stats for this season would be:
13 games: 34 Rec 311 Yds 5 TD
14 games: 36 Rec 335 Yds 5 TD

I don’t think a drop off in tight end use is necessarily bad. A lot of the production has just shifted to wide receivers. But I think it puts more pressure on the quarterback when the offense relies heavily on spreading receivers out and chucking it around (especially in close games in freezing temperatures).

I was hoping BYU could sprinkle in some more 12-personal formations. Roberts and Lassiter out wide with (Keanu/Swanson) and Ta’ase in tight and with Jake in in the pistol with (Martin/Ropati) in the backfield. Hypothetically, this would threaten defenses with an evenly credible threat of running or passing (including play-action passing). That puts a lot of pressure on the defense to defend a lot of possible play types. Instead, BYU seems to have had great success this year with three-receiver sets plus a tight end and running back. I think the latter makes it more obvious to defenses that the offense is passing, and it’s harder to run effectively with just one tight end. They’re relying on Jake to ball out, and it has worked for the most part so far.

Maybe the tight end talent isn’t where it’s been in previous seasons, but I think that’s a tough argument to make with two 4-stars and a converted receiver with over 1,000 career receiving yards.

And yes, my dad was the former tight ends coach, but this isn’t meant to be a shot against the current coaches or players. Just my non-expert thoughts on a trend.