From Ball State standout to NFL hopeful, 6-foot-7 Tanner Koziol utilizes creative study habits and elite length to carve out a receiving role in Jacksonville’s complex offense.
Tanner Koziol is not worried about his place on the depth chart; he's focused on making an impact for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie.
Koziol has been a bottom-ranked tight end at Ball State to start his collegiate career. He spent his time studying the playbook, preparing himself for when an opportunity arose.
The former two-star recruit became a valuable receiving threat for the Cardinals. He totaled 69 receptions for 668 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 and 2023.
After two years learning the program's offense, Koziol said he felt he played his best football during his junior campaign.
Indeed, it was a breakout season for him. He became Ball State's starter and hauled in a career-high 94 receptions for 839 yards and eight touchdowns. His performance earned him 2023 All-MAC Third Team and HERO Sports' Group of 5 All-American honors.
Koziol is carrying his three years with the Cardinals and applying it to his adjustment period in Jacksonville.
Coach Liam Coen runs a complex offense with players having various assignments on different plays. It's stumped the rookie a bit, but his support group is helping him memorize it day by day.
"I'll have my girlfriend read me the script," Koziol told Action Sports Jax's Brent Martineau. "Nick Mullins will send me an audio recording of the plays, and I'll listen to his sweet voice before I go to bed."
Jacksonville's fifth-round pick is part of a versatile tight end group. Brenton Strange headlines the position as the starter and received a three-year contract extension worth up to $48 million for his tremendous growth over the past several seasons.
Strange went from a special teams player in his rookie year to one of the premier blocking tight ends last season. He finished with a 73.4 PFF run-blocking grade, which was fifth-best at his position.
The 2023 second-round pick also added 540 yards and three touchdowns on 46 receptions.
Nate Boerkircher is Jacksonville's 56th pick this year, which was a head-scratcher for many analysts. He was projected as a fourth-rounder, but general manager James Gladstone reached early because he fits the trend the team is embracing.
Gladstone and Coen noticed a growing tendency for double tight-end sets. Pairing Boerkircher with Strange gives the Jaguars that same versatility.
Koziol is more of a receiving threat, given his career 2,234 yards and 24 touchdowns. He credited his genetics, saying his father was born with long arms and big hands, and reminisced about his time as a lead receiver playing youth football.
The 6-foot-7 tight end bolsters Jacksonville's depth and creativity at that position. He may start his career out like Strange on special teams, but when the opportunity arises, his time memorizing the playbook could pay off.
