2025 TCU football preview: DJ Rogers set for breakout year at tight end?
Despite Josh Hoover breaking the single season school record for passing yards, the Horned Frogs didn’t receive much production from their tight ends last season.
Replacing Jared Wiley proved to be a more difficult task than expected with the Horned Frogs’ tight ends combining for less than 350 yards.
It clearly didn’t impact the offense much as TCU finished with four receivers having over 600 yards. However, three of those receivers are gone and TCU will need more production from its tight ends to make up for the departures of Jack Bech and Savion Williams.
The position has talent, but it’s unproven. There’s an early favorite to be the starter, but the competition projects to be wide open assuming every player is healthy.
The Star-Telegram continues its preview of the 2025 TCU football season with a look at the tight ends:
Tight ends
Starter: DJ Rogers
Next up: Lafayette Kaiuway, Ka’Morreun Pimpton
Depth: Chase Curtis, Mason Peterson
Breakdown: Rogers enters the preseason as the early favorite to earn the starting job after a solid spring. Rogers had 12 receptions for 142 and two touchdowns, nearly matching former starter Drake Dabney’s 19 catches for 191 yards. With Dabney gone, Rogers could slide into the role and have the most productive season of his career.
Rogers has been with the program since 2021 and his ability as a receiving threat has never been in question. Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles praised Rogers for the strides he’s made as a blocker and that could be the key to him being the full-time starter. Kaiuway has yet to record a stat for TCU in two seasons, but the 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore has tremendous upside. Kaiuway may be the best vertical threat in the room and has showed flashes in the past.
But can Kaiuway stay healthy and remain consistent with his production in camp? Pimpton was an intriguing addition in the transfer portal from TCU, but the former North Crowley standout missed the spring with a lower leg injury. Pimpton is physically imposing standing at 6-6, 242 pounds. If healthy he figures to be an x-factor in the position battle.
Curtis is another veteran that was banged up during the spring, but hopes to be in the mix with good health. Curtis started one game last season and has been with the program since 2020. He may be the best blocker at the position and his toughness is one of his strengths.
Finally, Peterson was a three-star recruit that enrolled early in the spring. With injuries to Curtis and Pimpton, Peterson was able to get more reps than expected and showed promise. Peterson had his fair share of chunk plays during the spring and could push to get into the rotation with a strong preseason camp.
Best case scenario: Rogers goes out on a high note with nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns in his senior season. Pimpton and Kaiuway emerge down the stretch of the season as the tight end of the future while Curtis makes a number of key blocks to help the run game.
Worst case scenario: The tight end position remains lackluster with the Horned Frogs failing to have a tight end with more than 200 yards. TCU having less depth at receiver, the lack of tight end production causes Hoover to take a step back.
