We're days away from our first game week of the season and it seems like we've talked about the Aggies from every level possible; from the coaching staff down to special teams. But have we spent enough time taking a look at, and giving proper credit to, this revamped tight end room?
Three tight ends caught passes for the Aggies in 2024. Tre Watson, who led the group with 21 grabs, has since graduated and is no longer with the team. Same for Shane Calhoun, who had three grabs in his final collegiate season.
That leaves Theo Ohrstrom as the lone returner of the group, the rising junior who hauled in 10 grabs for 184 yards last season; highlighted by a five-catch, 111-yard performance against New Mexico State.
Ohrstrom won't be alone, obviously, as the Aggies made three solid transfer portal additions in the offseason: Amari Niblack from Texas, Nate Boerkircher from Nebraska, and Micah Riley from Auburn. When comparing how the group feels from a season ago, what's stood out most is the effort displayed in the weight room.
Improved TE room will be key to Texas A&M offense in 2025
"We've taken a big step physically," tight end Theo Ohrstrom said. "Obviously we've got guys that can make plays down the field ... we've just tried to stack days and become as physical as we can."
A high school wideout, Ohrstrom admits that the physical aspect of the game wasn't his forte when he arrived in College Station back in the spring of 2022. While his willingness to block showed up in his third and most recent season, he still felt like there was more work to be done ahead of 2025.
"I've done a lot to become a better blocker," Ohrstrom said. "The way I use my hands, my feet, everything."
On top of fine-tuning his technique, he's also gotten himself in better shape; getting his body fat down was a priority this offseason, and playing at a lower weight than the 265 pounds he carried last season will help his ability to run crisper and more sudden routes in the passing game.
As for his new teammates, he can't express enough the excitement and buzz around the group. He feels as though he and Boerkircher's games complement each other extremely well, and believes that people aren't giving enough credit to Niblack's full capabilities.
"People only think about his receiving part of his game but he's a really good guy to have on the perimeter blocking," Ohrstrom said. "He can block in the box too, but perimeter blocking he's really good at."
So, with a revamped tight end room and one with a wide range of talents, this offense should have plenty more to lean on in 2025 than it did in years past. This group, much like the Aggies as a whole, is built to win in many different ways.
"I think we have the ability to be a really explosive offense, but I also think we've shown that we can be one of those tough, run it down your throat type of offenses too," Ohrstrom said. "We can adapt to whatever we need to do."