Northwestern football position previews — Tight Ends

· Yahoo Sports

Another week is upon us, meaning it’s time for Inside NU’s next edition of our position preview series on Northwestern football’s 2026 roster, where we’ll analyze every group’s depth and anticipated production during the 2026 season.

So far we’ve published position previews on quarterbacks (7/6), running backs (7/15) and wide receivers (7/20).

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This week, we look at the Wildcats’ tight ends.

Overview

Returners: Blake Van Buren (Gr.), Chris Petrucci (Gr.), Robby Preckel (So.), Patrick Schaller (R-So.), Noah LaPorte (R-Fy.), Tyler Kielmeyer (R-Fy.)

Losses: Lawson Albright (graduated), Hunter Welcing (graduated), Alex Lines (graduated)

Newcomers: Alex Honig (Gr.), Luke Dehnicke (R-So.), Tom McGlinchey (Fy.),

While there are more questions than answers surrounding this position group, they are poised for a more potent role in Chip Kelly’s offense. NU’s new offensive coordinator has a long history of drafting, developing and utilizing tight ends within his schemes both at the college and NFL level. In previous interviews, Kelly has emphasized the versatile nature of tight ends as pivotal components of both his passing and blocking game. He values players who don’t just perform as traditional blockers on the line, but also can create plays and line up in multiple positions.

Bob Bicknell, NU’s new tight end coach, brings an impressive resume of his own to Northwestern. He worked as the tight ends coach for the New England Patriots and serving as the wide receiver coach for the San Francisco 49ers under Chip Kelly, who was its head coach at the time.

Among the class of returners, the majority of players spent their time with special teams and thus did not see much field action as a tight end. Robby Preckel is the only returning player who caught a pass last season and will look for more opportunities this year, while Blake Van Buren will bring a veteran presence to a younger tight end room.

Tom McGlinchey is the lone freshman newcomer. A first team conference honoree in the Inter-Academic League Having played tight end, quarterback and linebacker at William Penn Charter School, he brings a versatile skillset that will likely appeal to Kelly. McGlinchey also comes from a football family, as his brother is an offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos.

Key Players

Luke Dehnicke and Alex Honig

While the ‘Cats have six returners, two of the most intriguing tight ends entering this season are the transfers. Dehnicke comes in with immense momentum after posting 1,199 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns and 61 receptions during his freshman season at Minnesota Duluth. His performance won him the NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year, as he led the conference in receiving yards per game with a 97.6 average. His prowess earned him a spot on a D-1 team, which serves as an exciting opportunity but also a new challenge for Dehnicke, who now has to translate his domination in D-2 into successful play in a far more competitive conference.

Another transfer who could make an impact is Honig. Hailing from Germany, Honig established himself as the No. 1-rated player in the entire country in high school. He then spent two years developing at TCU, followed by three seasons at UConn where he steadily improved each year. In 2025, he had a career high 162 receiving yards on 13 receptions while also catching three touchdowns.

Standing 6-foot-6 at 270 lbs, and having been named to he Athletic’s 2025 College Football “Freaks List,” Honig is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most athletic tight ends on this roster. He brings international experience and a track record of development that should pair well with Kelly’s play calling, given his love for high-IQ players that can be forceful blockers and have the size to gain yards after catch.

Biggest Question

Can this revamped group improve despite losing last year’s key contributors?

Last season, Northwestern’s top three tight ends in receptions and receiving yards were Hunter Welcing, Lawson Albright and Alex Lines. All three graduated this spring.

Replacing Welcing’s production will be the biggest challenge. He finished third on the team with 28 receptions for 296 yards. The two players ahead of him in both categories — Griffin Wilde and Hayden Eglion II — as well as the two immediately behind him — Ricky Ahumaraeze and Drew Wagner — are all returning this season. That makes Welcing the only one of Northwestern’s top five receivers from last year who is no longer on the roster.

His departure underscores how important it is for the Wildcats’ end room to not only replace, but ideally exceed his production. Albright’s nine catches for 78 yards last year is also a void to fill as a complimentary option.

This tight end group has plenty to be excited about, and it’s clear that the position group’s ceiling should be raised in Kelly’s offense. But questions remain about how much, and who exactly will replace that lost production. Will one player emerge as the clear leader of the position group and become the focal point of the passing game? Or will the Wildcats rely on a deeper and more balanced tight end room, with multiple players sharing targets and contributing collectively?

Projected 2026 TE Depth Chart

First string: Luke Dehnicke, Alex Honig

Second String: Blake Van Buren, Robby Preckel

Third String: Chris Petrucci, Patrick Schaller

Late string/Reserve/Special Teams: Noah LaPorte, Tyler Kielmeyer, Tom McGlinchey

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