Reis Kessel, North Dakota State TE: the 2026 season story
Reis Kessel is a sophomore tight end for North Dakota State (Mountain West). He ranks 29th of 305 tight ends in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every tight end on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Reis Kessel's strongest measure is touchdowns per game at 0.4, 17th of 169 (the average is 0.2). Even his lowest-ranked one is good: catch rate at 71%, 62nd of 169 (the average is 67%).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His receiving yards per game, 37, ranks 23rd among 169 ranked tight ends.
Against every tight end
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of tight end he is. Among ranked tight ends he sits, on average, in the 86th percentile for volume, 69th for efficiency and 90th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 9 games, Reis Kessel's best came in week 8 at New Mexico and his quietest in week 3 at Sacramento State.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Reis Kessel is 28th of 169 FBS tight ends and 3rd of 8 in the Mountain West. Next up nationally is Hunter Andrews of Utah, 0.06 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2025 at North Dakota State, 18th of 378 tight ends.
Tight ends like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Luke Gilbert of Jacksonville State.
