Gabe Burkle and Iowa State's tight ends eager to challenge Iowa's defense

AMES — Gabe Burkle’s eyes light up every time he lines up alongside two or three of his fellow Iowa State tight ends.

The former Cedar Rapids Prairie star helps make the No. 16 Cyclones’ offense more diverse and dangerous, as so-called “heavy” sets don’t necessarily mean a running play is coming. And that’s because ISU’s top four tight ends — Burkle, Ben Brahmer, Tyler Moore and Cooper Alexander — all can adroitly block while also posing threats as downfield targets for quarterback Rocco Becht, no matter the formation, no matter the down and distance.

“It’s super fun getting out there with three of my best friends out on the field together,” said Burkle, who hopes to help ISU (2-0) beat Cy-Hawk series rival Iowa (1-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday (Fox) at Jack Trice Stadium. “It’s definitely a great feeling. It’s amazing. We love it, we love it.”

So does the Cyclones’ second-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who just happens to also be the team’s tight ends coach.

“More than anything, those guys are some of our most trusted guys,” said Mouser, who has mentored ISU’s tight ends since 2021. “We do a lot with those guys in protections and we can be really multiple with how we want to line up and take some heat off of some other people, and be able to do some different stuff. I’m a little biased, obviously, because I’m in that room and I know those guys, I know what they’re about.”

Brahmer caught two touchdown passes against the South Dakota to add to Burkle’s single scoring grab. The duo leads the team in catches with 16 (nine for Brahmer, seven for Burkle) — and tight ends gathered in 13 of Becht’s 19 completions last week. Becht’s lone errant throw against South Dakota came with 3:28 remaining in the first half. It was intended for — you guessed it — a tight end, but it fell short of former Linn-Mar standout Keaton Roskop’s grasp.

“It was not a very good route, so I told Rocco it was our fault that (he didn’t go) 20-for-20 or whatever it was,” Mouser said.

Consider it a trivial error. Becht still set a program record for single-game accuracy by going 19 of 20 passing (95 percent) for 278 yards and the three touchdowns to his top two tight ends. ISU got just four total touchdowns last season from that position group, but now that high NFL Draft picks Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel have moved on, Cyclone tight ends are helping to shoulder the load as young and/or new wide receivers gain experience and confidence early in the season.

“I just think their skill set is so multiple in what they can do,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said of his current crop of tight ends. “If you look at the (NFL), boy, they aren’t just great receivers, they’re great blockers, they’re great pass blockers, they’ve got the ability to do all the things well. And that’s why tight end is, in my opinion, one of the hardest positions to play, because you have to acquire so many great fundaments and skills to be able to be an elite player at that position.”

Campbell and his staff have produced several high-end tight ends, most notably Charlie Kolar of the Baltimore Ravens — the Cyclones’ only three-time All-American — and Chase Allen and Dylan Soehner, both of whom spent multiple seasons in the league.

Whether Burkle and Brahmer (and company) can ascend to similar heights remains to be seen, but they’re off to a heady start as two of Becht’s most trusted pass catchers.

“(There’s) not a lot of time to go out there and earn trust, so you have to do that in practice with each rep — getting in there and watching the film and things like that,” said Burkle, who’s averaging 16.6 yards per catch. “And when your moments do come, you have to be ready, and I think I was.”

Becht does, too. It also doesn’t hurt that his dad, Anthony, played 11 seasons in the NFL as — you guessed it — a tight end.

“He loves those guys,” Becht said. “He spent the first two weeks (of camp) with us in the tight end room, helping them out, so that was pretty cool.”

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