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Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Tight Ends/Fullbacks Preview: Young, but Talented Room
8/13/2026 4:04:00 PM | Football
Seven tight ends and fullbacks vye for playing time, including returnees Rusty VanWetzinga and Landon Swanson.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan's Tight Ends enter the 2026 season with a variety of new faces but with talent and optimism.
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Derek Fulton lost several key players from last year in DeCorion Temple (17 catches, 143 yards, 2 TD) and Henry Dryden (eight catches, 70 yards), along with several players who moved from the tight end room to defense including JJ Douglas, Nathan VanTimmeren, and Logan Borodychuk. Tight ends accounted for 26 receptions for 220 yards and two receiving touchdowns last season.
"We have a young room with a lot of new faces, but the group picks things up so quickly," Fulton said. "Mentally, they're on pace with where they need to be. We brought in a great group of transfers, three guys at mid-year in Jaden Allen, Gavin Spillers, and Myles Peters. We have two true freshmen: Lucas Hoffmeyer and Zack Wagner. All five of those guys are doing a great job. And we return Rusty VanWetzinga IV and Landon Swanson."
"One positive about our room is that they all complement each other. Individually, they all have things that are their strengths. With some of the skills we need to improve on individually, there's already someone in the room that does that skill pretty well. We've targeted guys who are physical, tough, great kids, and come from great support systems. In this offense, we're going to ask them to do a lot of different things. Credit Coach Riedel and the strength staff, they've all gotten bigger, faster, and stronger. Through six practices in fall camp, we've seen tremendous growth. They are all very competitive, but the best thing is that they're all good teammates. They love seeing each other succeed. It's probably the most cohesive unit that I've ever had a position group. They compete with each other every day but they're extremely supportive of one another."
"We are just trying to stay consistent right now, playing with physicality, violence, and toughness. All of these guys are great football players, but they're even better people. We anticipate that most of these guys will be on the field at some point."
2026 TIGHT ENDS PERSONNEL ROSTER
88 | Jaden Allen | Fifth Year | 6-3 | 250 | Sewell, N.J.
44 | Lucas Hoffmeyer | Fr. | 6-3 | 235 | Wixom, Mich.
85 | Myles Peters | So. | 6-3 | 240 | Cottonwood Heights, Utah
87 | Gavin Spillers | Jr. | 6-3 | 250 | Roberta, Ga.
42 | Landon Swanson | Sr. | 6-3 | 240 | Charlevoix, Mich.
8 | Rusty VanWetzinga IV | Sr. | 6-1 | 235 | Pleasant Valley, Iowa
46 | Zack Wagner | Fr. | 6-4 | 240 | Washington, Mich.
A prototypical fullback, VanWetzinga IV returns after seeing action in all 13 games with five starts in 2025. The Pleasant Valley, Iowa native receives much fanfare for his physical presence and position.
"Rusty didn't participate in spring ball because of an injury," Fulton said. "Rusty is super competitive and he played a lot of snaps last year. We need him to be a good player for us, but also a good leader. He's grown in that regard."
Swanson moved from defense to tight end midway through last year. He spent the second half of last season learning the offensive playbook, but still made contributions. He also played a major role on special teams, making several big plays.
"Landon is as blue collar as it gets, low maintenance, high output," Fulton said. "He's one of the strongest pound-for-pound players on our football team. He's the type of kid that would run through a wall for you. He's an unbelievable kid with unbelievable work ethic. He doesn't say a lot, he lets his physicality do the talking for him."
Fulton's three transfers will all play key roles. Spillers is a transfer from Mars Hill, Peters joins the squad from Snow College, and Allen is a Fordham transfer.
"Gavin Spillers is similar to Landon, quiet young man, but super physical," Fulton said. "Myles Peters is pretty athletic and has the ability to do things in the run game and pass game. Both of those guys are still young. Jaden Allen is a transfer from Fordham who brings a high football IQ and a lot of experience."
Fulton also said both freshmen—Hoffmeyer and Wagner—ware challenging for playing time. Hoffmeyer (Wixom) and Wagner (Washington) are both Michigan natives.
"Lucas was here in January," Fulton said. "He's as physical of a true freshman that I've been around. Zack has also been impressive."
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Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Derek Fulton lost several key players from last year in DeCorion Temple (17 catches, 143 yards, 2 TD) and Henry Dryden (eight catches, 70 yards), along with several players who moved from the tight end room to defense including JJ Douglas, Nathan VanTimmeren, and Logan Borodychuk. Tight ends accounted for 26 receptions for 220 yards and two receiving touchdowns last season.
"We have a young room with a lot of new faces, but the group picks things up so quickly," Fulton said. "Mentally, they're on pace with where they need to be. We brought in a great group of transfers, three guys at mid-year in Jaden Allen, Gavin Spillers, and Myles Peters. We have two true freshmen: Lucas Hoffmeyer and Zack Wagner. All five of those guys are doing a great job. And we return Rusty VanWetzinga IV and Landon Swanson."
"One positive about our room is that they all complement each other. Individually, they all have things that are their strengths. With some of the skills we need to improve on individually, there's already someone in the room that does that skill pretty well. We've targeted guys who are physical, tough, great kids, and come from great support systems. In this offense, we're going to ask them to do a lot of different things. Credit Coach Riedel and the strength staff, they've all gotten bigger, faster, and stronger. Through six practices in fall camp, we've seen tremendous growth. They are all very competitive, but the best thing is that they're all good teammates. They love seeing each other succeed. It's probably the most cohesive unit that I've ever had a position group. They compete with each other every day but they're extremely supportive of one another."
"We are just trying to stay consistent right now, playing with physicality, violence, and toughness. All of these guys are great football players, but they're even better people. We anticipate that most of these guys will be on the field at some point."
2026 TIGHT ENDS PERSONNEL ROSTER
88 | Jaden Allen | Fifth Year | 6-3 | 250 | Sewell, N.J.
44 | Lucas Hoffmeyer | Fr. | 6-3 | 235 | Wixom, Mich.
85 | Myles Peters | So. | 6-3 | 240 | Cottonwood Heights, Utah
87 | Gavin Spillers | Jr. | 6-3 | 250 | Roberta, Ga.
42 | Landon Swanson | Sr. | 6-3 | 240 | Charlevoix, Mich.
8 | Rusty VanWetzinga IV | Sr. | 6-1 | 235 | Pleasant Valley, Iowa
46 | Zack Wagner | Fr. | 6-4 | 240 | Washington, Mich.
A prototypical fullback, VanWetzinga IV returns after seeing action in all 13 games with five starts in 2025. The Pleasant Valley, Iowa native receives much fanfare for his physical presence and position.
"Rusty didn't participate in spring ball because of an injury," Fulton said. "Rusty is super competitive and he played a lot of snaps last year. We need him to be a good player for us, but also a good leader. He's grown in that regard."
Swanson moved from defense to tight end midway through last year. He spent the second half of last season learning the offensive playbook, but still made contributions. He also played a major role on special teams, making several big plays.
"Landon is as blue collar as it gets, low maintenance, high output," Fulton said. "He's one of the strongest pound-for-pound players on our football team. He's the type of kid that would run through a wall for you. He's an unbelievable kid with unbelievable work ethic. He doesn't say a lot, he lets his physicality do the talking for him."
Fulton's three transfers will all play key roles. Spillers is a transfer from Mars Hill, Peters joins the squad from Snow College, and Allen is a Fordham transfer.
"Gavin Spillers is similar to Landon, quiet young man, but super physical," Fulton said. "Myles Peters is pretty athletic and has the ability to do things in the run game and pass game. Both of those guys are still young. Jaden Allen is a transfer from Fordham who brings a high football IQ and a lot of experience."
Fulton also said both freshmen—Hoffmeyer and Wagner—ware challenging for playing time. Hoffmeyer (Wixom) and Wagner (Washington) are both Michigan natives.
"Lucas was here in January," Fulton said. "He's as physical of a true freshman that I've been around. Zack has also been impressive."
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