Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Tony Harman
Physical Presence and Culture Drive Colorado’s Tight End Room
February 20, 2026 | Football
Inside Look at Colorado’s Tight End Room
As Colorado prepares for spring practice, CUBuffs.com is taking an inside look at each position group on the roster.
BOULDER — Size defines Colorado's tight end room.
Averaging just over 6'5 across the position group, the Buffaloes bring a physically imposing presence into spring practice. The room is built on strength and frame, creating natural size advantages at the point of attack while giving the offense a large target window in the passing game.
Over the winter, one of the program's original Buffaloes and one of only two remaining from the initial transition, Brady Kopetz was awarded a scholarship. The moment underscored the culture inside the room as much as it did roster movement.
Head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders made it clear what Kopetz represents to the program.
"I got love for you and I am going to look out for you," Sanders told Kopetz. "Because you do well. You work your butt off, you bring people together. I have never seen a day that you have not given it your all. Just your energy from the time we stretch to the time we finish."
With size and leadership in place, the tight end group enters spring as a physical and culture driven position room.
Group: Tight Ends
Returners: Zach Atkins, Zayne DeSouza, Brady Kopetz, Corbin Laisure, Charlie Williams
Newcomer: Fisher Clements
Position Group Preview
Colorado's tight end room blends production, experience and developmental upside. The Buffaloes returns veteran presence at the position, giving the offense reliable blocking, situational awareness and red zone capability. The group has demonstrated the ability to contribute in multiple phases, attached in line, flexed in space and on special teams, giving the staff flexibility in personnel packages.
Zach Atkins returns as the most established receiving option. The junior appeared in all 12 games last season, starting seven including the final five. He finished fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 149 yards and ranked among the top-20 tight ends in the Big 12 in receptions and receiving yards. Atkins brings proven production and experience after transferring from Northwest Missouri State, where he caught 30 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns across three seasons.
Brady Kopetz provides leadership and special teams value. He played in all 12 games last season and ranked eighth on the team in special teams snaps with 132 across four units. Named a team leader before the Kansas State game, Kopetz represents the cultural foundation of the room.
Fisher Clements adds size at 6'7 and arrives as the lone newcomer. He saw action in nine games last season at his previous stop, contributing on offense and special teams. Clements bring height and catch radius that complement the physical profile of the group.
Charlie Williams adds depth after appearing in the final two games of 2025, contributing primarily on special teams. The sophomore transfer from UNLV continues to develop within the system.
With an average height north of 6'5, proven production in Atkins, culture leadership in Kopetz and developmental size across the room, Colorado's tight ends enter spring as one of the most physically imposing position groups on the roster.
Lets meet the tight ends.
Zach Atkins
Year: Junior
Hometown: Olathe, Kan.
High School: Blue Valley Southwest
Previous School: Northwest Missouri State
Atkins returns as the most established receiving option at the position. He played in all 12 games last season, starting seven including the final five. He finished fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 149 yards and ranked 16th among Big 12 tight ends in receptions and 17th in receiving yards.
Before arriving at Colorado, Atkins played three seasons at Northwest Missouri State, totaling 30 receptions for 360 yards and four touchdowns. His experience and production anchor the room.
Fisher Clements
Year: Redshirt Junior
Hometown: Meridian, Idaho
High School: Mountain View
Clements is the lone newcomer in the room. Standing 6'7, he adds further height to the group. He appeared in nine games last season at his previous stop, contributing four receptions and playing on special teams.
His size complements a room already built on physical frames.
Colorado's tight end room is defined by size and internal leadership. With an established contributor in Atkins, a culture cornerstone in Kopetz and developing size across the depth chart, the position group enters spring with a clear physical identity.
Zayne DeSouza
Year: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Loveland, Colo.
High School: Loveland
DeSouza brings size at 6'6 and 260 pounds. A three-star recruit and one of the top players in Colorado coming out of high school, he redshirted during the 2025 season.
At Loveland, he totaled 51 receptions for 446 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, earning First Team All-Conference honors. His development adds further physical presence and long-term upside to the room.
Brady Kopetz
Year: Junior
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
High School: Lincoln
Kopetz played in all 12 games during the 2025 season and ranked eighth on the team in special teams snaps with 132 across four units. He earned leader recognition before the Kansas State game and saw offensive snaps across five contests.
More than statistics, Kopetz represents consistency and accountability within the room. His scholarship recognition over the winter reinforced his importance to the program's culture.
Corbin Laisure
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Bluff City, Tenn.
High School: Science Hill
Appeared in three games and preserved redshirt. Logged eight offensive snaps against Arizona and 13 snaps on kickoff return.
Consensus three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN, Rivals, and On3. Ranked among the top tight ends and top players in the state of Tennessee across multiple recruiting services.
Charlie Williams
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Aspen, Colo.
High School: IMG Academy
Previous School: UNLV
Williams appeared in the final two games of the 2025 season, making his collegiate debut on special teams. The sophomore transfer continues to develop within the system and provides depth at 6 foot 4 and 245 pounds.
Up Next: Inside look at the running backs as Colorado continues its position-by-position spring preview series.
BOULDER — Size defines Colorado's tight end room.
Averaging just over 6'5 across the position group, the Buffaloes bring a physically imposing presence into spring practice. The room is built on strength and frame, creating natural size advantages at the point of attack while giving the offense a large target window in the passing game.
Over the winter, one of the program's original Buffaloes and one of only two remaining from the initial transition, Brady Kopetz was awarded a scholarship. The moment underscored the culture inside the room as much as it did roster movement.
Head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders made it clear what Kopetz represents to the program.
"I got love for you and I am going to look out for you," Sanders told Kopetz. "Because you do well. You work your butt off, you bring people together. I have never seen a day that you have not given it your all. Just your energy from the time we stretch to the time we finish."
With size and leadership in place, the tight end group enters spring as a physical and culture driven position room.
Group: Tight Ends
Returners: Zach Atkins, Zayne DeSouza, Brady Kopetz, Corbin Laisure, Charlie Williams
Newcomer: Fisher Clements
Position Group Preview
Colorado's tight end room blends production, experience and developmental upside. The Buffaloes returns veteran presence at the position, giving the offense reliable blocking, situational awareness and red zone capability. The group has demonstrated the ability to contribute in multiple phases, attached in line, flexed in space and on special teams, giving the staff flexibility in personnel packages.
Zach Atkins returns as the most established receiving option. The junior appeared in all 12 games last season, starting seven including the final five. He finished fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 149 yards and ranked among the top-20 tight ends in the Big 12 in receptions and receiving yards. Atkins brings proven production and experience after transferring from Northwest Missouri State, where he caught 30 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns across three seasons.
Brady Kopetz provides leadership and special teams value. He played in all 12 games last season and ranked eighth on the team in special teams snaps with 132 across four units. Named a team leader before the Kansas State game, Kopetz represents the cultural foundation of the room.
Fisher Clements adds size at 6'7 and arrives as the lone newcomer. He saw action in nine games last season at his previous stop, contributing on offense and special teams. Clements bring height and catch radius that complement the physical profile of the group.
Charlie Williams adds depth after appearing in the final two games of 2025, contributing primarily on special teams. The sophomore transfer from UNLV continues to develop within the system.
With an average height north of 6'5, proven production in Atkins, culture leadership in Kopetz and developmental size across the room, Colorado's tight ends enter spring as one of the most physically imposing position groups on the roster.
Lets meet the tight ends.
Zach Atkins
Year: Junior
Hometown: Olathe, Kan.
High School: Blue Valley Southwest
Previous School: Northwest Missouri State
Atkins returns as the most established receiving option at the position. He played in all 12 games last season, starting seven including the final five. He finished fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 149 yards and ranked 16th among Big 12 tight ends in receptions and 17th in receiving yards.
Before arriving at Colorado, Atkins played three seasons at Northwest Missouri State, totaling 30 receptions for 360 yards and four touchdowns. His experience and production anchor the room.
Fisher Clements
Year: Redshirt Junior
Hometown: Meridian, Idaho
High School: Mountain View
Clements is the lone newcomer in the room. Standing 6'7, he adds further height to the group. He appeared in nine games last season at his previous stop, contributing four receptions and playing on special teams.
His size complements a room already built on physical frames.
Colorado's tight end room is defined by size and internal leadership. With an established contributor in Atkins, a culture cornerstone in Kopetz and developing size across the depth chart, the position group enters spring with a clear physical identity.
Zayne DeSouza
Year: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Loveland, Colo.
High School: Loveland
DeSouza brings size at 6'6 and 260 pounds. A three-star recruit and one of the top players in Colorado coming out of high school, he redshirted during the 2025 season.
At Loveland, he totaled 51 receptions for 446 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, earning First Team All-Conference honors. His development adds further physical presence and long-term upside to the room.
Brady Kopetz
Year: Junior
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
High School: Lincoln
Kopetz played in all 12 games during the 2025 season and ranked eighth on the team in special teams snaps with 132 across four units. He earned leader recognition before the Kansas State game and saw offensive snaps across five contests.
More than statistics, Kopetz represents consistency and accountability within the room. His scholarship recognition over the winter reinforced his importance to the program's culture.
Corbin Laisure
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Bluff City, Tenn.
High School: Science Hill
Appeared in three games and preserved redshirt. Logged eight offensive snaps against Arizona and 13 snaps on kickoff return.
Consensus three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN, Rivals, and On3. Ranked among the top tight ends and top players in the state of Tennessee across multiple recruiting services.
Charlie Williams
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Aspen, Colo.
High School: IMG Academy
Previous School: UNLV
Williams appeared in the final two games of the 2025 season, making his collegiate debut on special teams. The sophomore transfer continues to develop within the system and provides depth at 6 foot 4 and 245 pounds.
Up Next: Inside look at the running backs as Colorado continues its position-by-position spring preview series.
Players Mentioned
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