Matt Ludwig

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 240 lbs. Taller than 22% and heavier than 79% of 2026 Tight End prospects in the SEC Scouts database (116 with a listed size).

Play Style

Ludwig is a physical, catch-and-go tight end. Billings West lined him up in-line, flexed him to the slot, and gave him the ball directly in short yardage. As a receiver he does most of his damage on seams, crossers and play-action leaks. His 14.7 yards per catch comes more from strength and balance after the catch than from pure speed. On film he runs over defensive backs rather than around them, and he is a natural target on the goal line and in the flat. His defensive-end background shows up in his demeanor: he plays downhill, looks for contact and competes through the whistle. His next step as a blocker is more technical consistency.

Strengths

• Productive receiver: 50 catches for 736 yards (14.7 per catch) and 10 TD as a senior. That yards-per-catch figure is high for a 245-pound tight end and shows he gains yards after the catch and can win down the seam.
• Scores near the goal line: he added 5-7 rushing TDs on short-yardage carries (sources differ on his exact rushing line) and scored on an 8-yard catch in his first real action at Texas Tech. He is a reliable red-zone target and can take direct snaps in short yardage.
• Plays with a defensive player's physicality. Two-way production at DE (32 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 19 hurries, 5 PBUs) shows the competitiveness and hand use that coaches want in a blocking tight end.
• Recruited by elite programs: more than 30 offers, including Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Oregon and Tennessee. Big-program staffs were confident he would translate despite the Montana competition level.
• Proven on a national stage: he was selected for the Navy All-American Bowl, where he faced national-level talent.

Areas to Improve

• Montana Class AA competition is well below Texas, Georgia or Florida high school football. His dominance has to be discounted until he shows the same functional strength against Power 4 edge defenders every week.
• Route detail and separation: at 6-4 without elite length, he will need sharper stems, better leverage and more physical hands at the catch point to win against college linebackers and safeties instead of simply outsizing high school defenders.
• In-line blocking technique: he needs to keep his pad level down, place his hands inside and sustain blocks through the whistle, which are the things that decide whether a freshman tight end earns snaps in the run game.
• Learning the scheme: his recruitment ran through a signing, a release and a recommitment, so he has less time in the program than a typical early enrollee. Adjusting to Texas Tech's tempo and pass-protection rules is his immediate hurdle.

College Projection

He is already contributing as a true freshman. He had 3 catches, 30 yards and an 8-yard TD in Texas Tech's 35-24 win over Oregon State while filling in for injured starter Terrance Carter. Expect a rotational role in 2026, mainly in 12 personnel (two-tight-end sets), in the red zone and as an injury backup. He could compete for a starting job as a redshirt freshman or sophomore in 2027. By years 3-4 he projects as a 30-45-catch 'Y' tight end who can also handle in-line blocking duties.

NFL Outlook

As a 4-star with an NFL-ready frame of 6-4/245 and two-way toughness, Ludwig profiles as a potential Day 3 pick (rounds 4-7) and could go higher if his blocking becomes reliable. The NFL values tight ends who can do both, and his path depends on proving he can hold up in-line against Big 12 edge rushers. His height puts a ceiling on the 'move tight end' role, so his draft stock will depend on his blocking plus his production after the catch and in the red zone.

Best Fit

A pro-style or multiple-tight-end spread offense that uses 11 and 12 personnel and asks its tight end to both block and attack the seam off play-action. Texas Tech fits because it uses tight ends as red-zone and middle-of-the-field targets, and it also has a need for blocking at the position. Heavy-RPO and 12-personnel schemes like the ones Michigan and Georgia ran during his recruitment would get the most out of his full skill set.