Widely Pursued TE Bear Tenney Names Washington in Top 5

This 3-star recruit from Utah first received a Husky offer in early 2022 when he lived in Arizona.

After sorting through dozens of scholarship offers from college football programs nationwide, Bear Tenney has settled on his top five schools. 

On Friday, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end, who will play his senior year for Lehi High School in Lehi, Utah, listed Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Utah and Washington. 

The Huskies re-offered Tenney on February 7, but a large part of his interest is tied to his relationship with tight-ends coach Jordan Paopao, back for his second stint at the UW after serving in the same role for Jedd Fisch at Arizona. 

"Coach Paopao develops tight ends and I like what he did with his tight end at U of A last season," Tenney said, referring to Tanner McLachlan, now preparing for the NFL draft.

McLachlan played 811 snaps in 2023 for the Wildcats — second most among all Pac-12 tight ends — and led the conference in receiving yards with 530 while finishing second in receptions with 45, one behind UW senior Jack Westover's 46. 

Although Paopao has a strong connection with Tenney, who ranks as a 3-star prospect by 247Sports and previously played his high school ball in the state of Arizona, another high-profile program has hosted him three times for unofficial visits. 

Kalen DeBoer's Husky staff originally offered Tenney more than two years ago when he played for Casteel High School in Queen Creek, Arizona, which is southeast of Phoenix.

Georgia is set to have the talented tight end back on campus on April 14, after Tenney makes his first trip to Seattle on April 5, and still has his attention. 

"Look at Brock Bowers and his success there," Tenney said. "I get along with [tight-ends coach] Todd Hartley really well. It's just a school I've always liked."

Another program that remains in the running is Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes. Tenney will visit Boulder on March 30.

"I get along with Deion and their tight-ends coach," he said, referring to Brett Bartolone. "We talk every week. I just had a Zoom call with them and about 20 coaches on their staff for about an hour."

Speaking to Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and larger-than-life personality, is an experience all its own for Tenney. 

"You can almost feel his potential and excitement behind the phone," he said. "You could tell he's just ready for greatness."

With spots filling up in the 2025 recruiting class, Tenney is looking to make a decision in the coming weeks, potentially before he goes on his visits in March and April. 

Among the schools in his top five, only Georgia currently has tight-end commits in 4-star recruits Elyiss Williams and Ethan Barbour for next year's class. 

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