By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor
Baylor saw the emergence of a top talent at tight end in 2025. Michael Trigg found his place in the Bears’ offense in his second season in Waco.
Trigg became a Mackey Award Finalist, All-Big 12 First Team and an All-American as one of the top pass catchers at his position. From acrobatic one-handed catches to late-game touchdowns, he played the biggest role in the pass game over the rest of the tight end room.
While Trigg has moved on to working his way on an NFL roster, it became time for the senior tight ends Matthew Klopfenstein and Hawkins Polley to take their place in the Baylor offense.
“I’m unique in my own way, and Trigg was unique in his own way,” Klopfenstein said. “The guy could do it all. I just like to think that I can stay true to my game and what I can do.”
The pair did not put up the numbers Trigg did, with Klopfenstein totaling eight catches for 73 yards and a touchdown and Polley playing eight games on special teams in 2025. Tight ends coach Jarrett Anderson still sees how they can contribute to offense like Trigg did, but without as much past production.
“There’s always a complement somewhere,” Anderson said. “[Trigg] may be a more vertical threat on some things, but there’s other times that their bodies can do different things and create space in their own way that can be a vertical matchup in a different aspect.”
Klopfenstein has taken the step to the starting spot with relative ease.
“Klopf‘s been on the stage before,” Anderson said. “It’s an easy transition for him.”
One of the more notable improvements Klopfenstein has made over the offseason is the mental aspect of his game.
“He doesn’t second guess himself,” Anderson said. “Klopf is smart as can be and sometimes he’d think, ‘Well, am I doing it the right way?’ I said, “You’re doing it the right way. Don’t think about it.’”
He has grown more confident in his approach during the fall. He has looked to his experience from the 34 games he has played across three seasons. Starting as a member of the tight end rotation in 2023, Klopfenstein has found success in focusing on the details.
“I think when you’re young and things are happening really fast, it takes a while to get used to it, read coverages and the minor details,” Klopfenstein said. “Now that I’ve gotten older and taken on that role, I’ve been able to take ownership of that, see the little things.”
Polley is coming off an injury he suffered in the spring, limiting his progression early in the offseason. He has improved while recovering throughout the summer into the fall.
“When he started to really start working, then he had an AC injury, so kind of was a bummer,” Klopfenstein said. “Throughout the summer, he kind of stayed steady and could see him working hard, and then it’s showing right now in the fall.”
Polley said that his catching ability is something that he prides himself on during the fall, believing he has shown to have some of the best hands in the tight end room. He also has matured in his mental game as he gets closer to his senior campaign,
“I just understand so much more of the game,” Polley said. “I’m so much more consistent with my technique. I’m really putting the mental and the physical together, and it’s helped me a ton getting these extra reps.”
The two seniors now lead a tight end room that features three underclassmen and Florida transfer Tony Livingston, who is recovering from knee surgery last year. The new-look position group bonded quickly over the summer but really came together during the long fall schedule.
“We’ve really gelled and I think came together in the summer,” Polley said. “During fall camp, when you’re spending 13 hours a day together, you have no choice but to be friends. I think we choose to be friends regardless if we weren’t here 13 hours a day.”
Klopfenstein and Polley look to lead the tight ends into week one while Livingston is said to be day-to-day with his recovery.
