Coleson Arends, Western Kentucky TE: the 2026 season story
Coleson Arends is a junior tight end for Western Kentucky (Conference USA). He ranks 100th 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. Every measure is set against every ranked tight end, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Coleson Arends's strongest measure is catch rate at 75%, 36th of 169 (the average is 67%). His weakest is target share at 6%, 139th of 169 (the average is 10%).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His receiving yards per game, 16, ranks 109th among 169 ranked tight ends.
Against every tight end
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked tight ends he sits, on average, in the 27th percentile for volume, 67th for efficiency and 70th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 7 games, Coleson Arends's best came in week 2 at Georgia and his quietest in week 5 at New Mexico State.
When it matters
Why it matters. Third downs, the red zone and games against good teams are where drives and seasons are decided.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every tight end on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Coleson Arends is 82nd of 169 FBS tight ends and 4th of 13 in Conference USA. Next up nationally is Zach Courtney of Coastal Carolina, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Tight ends like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Maurice Brown II of South Carolina.
