Former UCLA and Utah tight end Carsen Ryan has appeared in all of three games for the BYU Cougars this year.
And in that short tenure he has already exceeded the highest receiving total of any BYU tight end from last year's squad.
Ryan is making tight ends great again in Provo
Ryan already has nine receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns for the 3-0 Cougars.
In 2024 BYU's leading tight end receivers were Ryner Swanson and Mata'ava Ta'ase who both had 91 receiving yards on the season.
Ryan is currently averaging 48.7 receiving yards per game. Assuming BYU makes a bowl game this year and plays 13 games, that puts him on pace for 633 yards this season. Here's how that compares to the leading tight end receivers in each of BYU's last five seasons:
2024 - 91 yards, Ryner Swanson and Mata'ava Ta'ase
2023 - 422 yards, Isaac Rex
2022 - 320 yards, Isaac Rex
2021 - 200 yards, Dallin Holker
2020 - 429 Isaac Rex
If Carsen Ryan puts up 633 receiving yards this year, it will be the highest total from the position since Matt Bushman's 688 yards in 2019.
Carsen Ryan's impact on Bear Bachmeier
In addition to the stats, Carsen Ryan's impact on freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier is huge. While it doesn't appear anywhere in the box score, having a reliable target at tight end instills confidence in young quarterbacks. Good tight ends who can get open quickly as a first or second read become security blankets to young guys like Bachmeier and his three college starts.
Among all of Bear Bachmeier's targets, it seems like his best connection is with Ryan. The senior tight end knows how to find open seams and sit down in space, helping his young quarterback quickly get the ball out of his hands.
BYU fans have been pining for the return of the receiving tight end in Provo.
It looks like their wish has been granted in Carsen Ryan.