2025 Trib HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the tight ends

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top tight ends for the 2025 season.

1. TJ Sabatucci

Canon-McMillan

Senior, 6-2, 225

Sabatucci was voted a first-team all-conference tight end in Class 6A two years in a row. The Buffalo commit caught 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns last year, and his blocks bolstered the Big Macs’ run game. Coaches can use him as a traditional in-line tight end, H-back or fullback. Plus he’s disruptive on defense as an edge rusher who made 38 tackles and three interceptions. Last year’s touchdowns covered 23, 12 and 7 yards. He has five TD catches in two years. Sabatucci committed to Buffalo in April. Akron, Fordham, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo also offered him.

Watch TJ Sabatucci highlights

2. Adam Gehm

Seneca Valley

Senior, 6-6, 230

A Vanderbilt commit with plenty of potential, Gehm lists 19 FBS offers, including West Virginia. However, foot injuries have limited his production the past two seasons, holding him to 11 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns combined. He caught a couple of red zone scores as a sophomore, covering 3 and 8 yards. Gehm could have a breakout season this fall under new SV coach Don Barclay. College recruiting website Rivals.com rated him as a three-star prospect and ranked him 53rd among tight end recruits nationally.

Watch Adam Gehm highlights

3. Lukas Stead

Allderdice

Senior, 6-4, 230

Stead is one of the best all-around athletes in the City League. He earned first-team City League honors at tight end last season but also received recognition in basketball (all-City League) and baseball (all-section in WPIAL). As a junior, he caught 20 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown. He also made 53 tackles and eight sacks, forced three fumbles and scored a defensive touchdown as an edge rusher. Akron, Clarion and Seton Hill have offered him scholarships.

Watch Lukas Stead highlights

4. Ethan Shearer

Central Valley

Senior, 6-2, 220

A first-team all-conference linebacker and tight end, Shearer is a versatile two-way player. He caught 11 passes last season, raising his two-year total to 32 catches for 419 yards and three touchdowns. He was also credited with 73 solo tackles and seven sacks last season. He lists offers from Akron, Eastern Michigan and Miami (Ohio).

Watch Ethan Shearer highlights

5. Kacey Carter

Gateway

Junior, 6-0, 220

Carter isn’t as tall as some players on this list, but his ability to make catches in traffic meets the job requirements. Voted a second-team all-conference tight end in the Big East last year, Carter turned five of his 16 catches into touchdowns. His longest was an 83-yarder. The others covered 26, 20, 20 and 18 yards.

Watch Kacey Carter highlights

One to watch

Thomas Arth

North Catholic

Senior, 6-3, 205

It’s hard to reduce Arth’s role to one position. He plays a variety of spots, including as a wildcat quarterback, and he’s also able to pass the ball if needed. He tossed four TDs last year. As a pass catcher, Arth’s position resembles many NFL tight ends as a big wide receiver lined up in the slot. He caught 43 passes for 508 yards, carried 54 times and scored 19 total TDs last year. Western Hills coaches named him second-team all-conference on defense and honorable mention as an “offensive athlete.” His father, Tom, is the Steelers’ quarterbacks coach.

Watch Thomas Arth highlights

• • • • •

Position breakdowns

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | DE | LB | CB | S | K

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Allderdice, Canon-McMillan, Central Valley, Gateway, North Catholic, Seneca Valley