Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 16-17@ Auburn | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Wk 2 | W 44-3vs Prairie View A&M | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 | Season-high 9 yds |
| Total | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 | 9 |
#85
Matthew Klopfenstein
Senior tight end for Baylor. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 248 lb · Scottsdale, AZ · Horizon HS
Returning to Baylor for 2026
The numbers
12
receiving yards · 2026
2 catches · 6 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 rec, 9 yds, vs Prairie View A&M
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 tight end for Baylor. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Baylor in 2023.
In Their Words
76 windows · 2026 fan posts
matthew×368.3media×130.3days×99.9baylor×41.0tight×37.0
“DJ Lagway & Matthew Klopfenstein Answer Questions at Big 12 Media Days Baylor QB DJ Lagway and TE Matthew Klopfenstein meet with the media for their "breakout session" at Big 12 Media Days 2026.”
board/Baylor University Football · fan post, verbatim
Matthew Klopfenstein
Shows up in the passing game from any alignment. This is his fourth year in the same receiving corps at Baylor. The receipt on tape: 9 rec yds, 1 receptions against Prairie View A&M, Week 2, 2026.
12 REC YDS · 2 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20233 games
- Signed with Baylor3-star out of Horizon
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Baylor
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Baylor
Played his entire career under Dave Aranda.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Dave Aranda — 17-22 over that span.
2023Baylor3-9HC: Dave Aranda · Balanced
2024Baylor8-5HC: Dave Aranda · Run-leaning
2025Baylor5-7HC: Dave Aranda · Pass-leaning, fast tempo
2026Baylor1-1HC: Dave Aranda · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the TE cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 1.0 REC/g, 6.0 YDS/g, 6.0 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dave Aranda
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 44–3
1 rec · 9 yds
Dominant 41-point win at home against Prairie View A&M.
With N. Bennett — 301 yds · 2 TD · 2 INT · QBR 29.6 · 13 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD · C. Knighten — 66 rush yds (12 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Baylor
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Tight end · Baylor
Returning around him
- 60% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 2 Baylor players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -1 net (31 in / 32 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Baylor · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #43 · 2026 recruiting class #57
DNA match
Player DNA
Complete TE
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
TE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Lake McRee’s 2022 season.
80%match
Matches Lake on
Total EPA (college ability)
Weight
Yards / reception
Differs from Lake on
TD rate (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Wyatt Sullivan's junior season at South Florida (2025).
Matches Wyatt on
Total EPA (college ability)
Weight
Reception volume
Differs from Wyatt on
Recruiting rating (higher)
Yards / reception (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Matthew Klopfenstein
Background
2025 (Junior): Played in 12 games with one start at tight end … Started the season finale vs. Houston … Had eight catches for 73 yards and a TD … Had three catches for 24 yards and a TD at Oklahoma State … Had a seven-yard grab vs. UCF and an 11-yard grab vs. Utah … Had three catches for 31 yards...
The tight end room · Baylor
- #10Tony Livingston119 receiving yards · 2025
- #85Matthew Klopfenstein73 receiving yards · 2025
- #86Hawkins Polley2 games · 2026
- #82Cody Mladenkano box-score line yet
- #43Brody Wilhelmno box-score line yet
2 more on the roster · Baylor team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology