Former SMU tight end Matt Hibner enters Baltimore with confidence, versatility and a familiar face in Ravens coach Jesse Minter.
Matt Hibner’s NFL journey now runs from SMU to the Baltimore Ravens, and the former Mustangs tight end believes the landing spot couldn’t have been much better.
Baltimore selected Hibner in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, giving the 6-foot-4, 251-pound playmaker a chance to reunite with Ravens head coach Jesse Minter, who previously coached defense at Michigan while Hibner was there.
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Even though they were on opposite sides of the ball in Ann Arbor, Hibner said the relationship matters.
“I couldn’t draw it up any better,” Hibner said on Glenn Clark Radio.
Hibner spent his first three college seasons at Michigan before transferring to SMU, where his offensive role grew dramatically. In two seasons with the Mustangs, he caught 55 passes for 804 yards and eight touchdowns.
His best year came in 2025, when he finished with 31 receptions for 436 yards and four scores.
That production helped Hibner show NFL teams he could be more than a depth tight end. At SMU, he moved around the formation, worked in space and proved he could function in a spread offense.
“I’m always trying to be as complete of a tight end as I can,” Hibner said. “You can just plug-and-play me at whatever position on the field if you need me to.”
Hibner also helped himself athletically, running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. His overall tight end score was modest, but his athleticism stood out.
For Hibner, the Ravens’ call meant more than draft slot. He said he would have been grateful even if Baltimore had made him the final pick.
Now, the former SMU standout enters the NFL with humility, versatility and a clear opportunity. In Baltimore, Hibner doesn’t have to be a star immediately. He just has to be ready.
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