Oklahoma TE Will Huggins Emerging in ‘Close-Knit’ Tight End Group

NORMAN Will Huggins played Division II football last year.

In a couple of weeks, he may start for an SEC squad.

Life moves fast.

But Huggins, a tight end who has taken first-team reps during fall camp, feels confident in his role, due to the togetherness of his position group.

I think were very far along, Huggins said.

Summer helped us get along well, and this fall, were taking huge steps and I think its going really well for us and were having a lot of fun doing it.

New-look TE room Huggins is one of three tight ends who transferred to OU after the 2024 season, along with John Locke Jr .

(Louisiana Tech) and Carson Kent (Kennesaw State).

Oklahomas only returners at tight end are Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre , and former OU linebacker Jaren Kanak now plays the position, too.

Oklahoma also signed tight end Trynae Washington as part of its 2025 recruiting class.

Despite the turnover from last years tight end room, both Huggins and Kent described the position as the closest group on the team.

Huggins believes the camaraderie has made each player at the position better.

We have a great time playing ball together, going through a hard thing like fall camp together, it just brings us closer, Huggins said.

Its a lot of fun.

READ MORE OKLAHOMA SOONERS Oklahoma DT David Stone Among 'Most Improved' Defensive Players Brent Venables: Oklahoma QB John Mateer 'Moved on Quickly' From Venmo Controversy WATCH: Oklahoma HC Brent Venables and Players Speak After Practice on Friday It's not just the tight end room that looks different on OU's offense.

The Sooners picked up quarterback John Mateer , running back Jaydn Ott , five wide receivers and three offensive linemen from the transfer portal.

They also hired Ben Arbuckle , from Washington State, to be the new offensive coordinator in December.

Huggins expects tight ends to be used heavily in 2025.

"I think that were gonna be in the run game, were gonna be in the passing game," Huggins said.

"I think were going to get the ball quite a bit and were going to have a lot of fun doing it." Position battle Huggins is entering his sixth year of college football.

He began his career at Kansas before playing one season at Pittsburg State.

With the Gorillas in 2024, Huggins caught 22 passes for 395 yards and a touchdown.

At 6-6 and 252 pounds, Huggins is physically gifted and has shown the ability to be a playmaker.

But the battle for the starting tight end job is still up for grabs.

Kent and Locke both played at the Division I level.

Helms and McIntyre have been in the system for multiple years now.

And Kanak, though not a tight end by trade, has shown his athleticism and football knowledge on the defensive end.

You want to be close, but youre also battling the guy next to you and thats the name of the game, Huggins said.

We all know somebodys going to be named a starter, somebodys gonna be the two, somebodys gonna be the three.

Competition, though, hasnt gotten in the way of the tight ends bond.

Huggins said the position battle has remained friendly and allowed each individual to become more valuable for the team.

It comes down to, Do we all know the offense the same? Is the next guy gonna be ready if somebody goes down? Huggins said.

You have to all be there for the same goal and you have to all have the same goal in mind because thats what it takes.

Growing closer through competition is something that Huggins believes is necessary for the entire team if it wants to reach its goal of winning championships.

Thats how you build a good team, everybody knows their role, you have to have a role on the defense, the offense or anything on a team and as long as you know your role and youre doing it to the best of your ability, thats what matters, Huggins said..

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