Tanner Koziol is a tight end and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who played his final collegiate season at the University of Houston after three productive seasons at Ball State. A native of Illinois, Koziol attended multiple high schools including Nazareth Academy and Mt. Vernon before arriving at Ball State as a two-star recruit in 2021. He developed steadily with the Cardinals and broke out in 2024 with a remarkable 94 receptions for 839 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the team in catches and becoming the first Ball State tight end to do so since 1989. His career totals with the Cardinals set program records for a tight end at the position. After entering the transfer portal, Koziol signed with Houston to elevate his draft profile against Big 12 competition, where he produced 74 receptions for 727 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 while earning second-team All-Big 12 honors and finishing among the conference leaders at the position. His career totals span 237 receptions, 2,234 yards, and 24 touchdowns across 49 games.
Standing approximately 6 feet 7 inches and 247 pounds with exceptional length and a large catch radius, Koziol is best described as a big-slot mismatch weapon with soft hands and a reliable feel for zone coverage. He excels at finding open grass underneath, making contested catches in traffic, and gaining yards after contact with his imposing frame. His combine testing confirmed solid explosiveness for his size, including a 36.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-2 broad jump. The limitations in his game center on his athletic profile, as his 40-yard dash time in the 4.7-second range indicates modest straight-line speed, and his in-line blocking technique features inconsistency at the point of attack with leverage and anchor issues that will need to improve. He projects as a mid-to-late Day 3 selection with the potential to carve out a reliable role as a receiving tight end and red zone target in a pass-heavy NFL offense.
