Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 52-21vs Weber State | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 0 | 19 | Season-high 28 yds |
| Total | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 0 | 19 |
#85
Zach Atkins
Senior tight end for Colorado. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 240 lb · Olathe, KS · Blue Valley Southwest
CFB Index 35 · #131 of 156 TEsMedium-low confidenceReturning to Colorado for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
28
receiving yards · 2026
3 catches · 9.3 per catch
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 rec, 28 yds, vs Weber State
His career numbers, season by seasonZach Atkins
Shows up in the passing game from any alignment. He has spent two seasons in the Colorado receiving corps. The receipt: 28 rec yds, 3 receptions against Weber State — Week 2, 2026.
28 REC YDS · 3 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Colorado
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Deion Sanders, all run-leaning offenses — 5-9 over that span.
2025Colorado3-9HC: Deion Sanders · Run-leaning
2026Colorado2-0HC: Deion Sanders · Run-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the TE cohort
Box-score percentiles
Medium-low confidence
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 1 game: 3.0 REC/g, 28.0 YDS/g, 9.3 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Deion Sanders
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.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #17 of 19 Big 12 TEs
How the All-Big 12 estimate is computed
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 52–21
vs Weber State
3 rec · 28 yds
Dominant 31-point win at home against Weber State.
With J. Lewis — 366 yds · 4 TD · 0 INT · QBR 85.2 · -23 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD · D. Greaves — 51 AVG · 2 IN 20 · 57 LONG
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
Colorado
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Tight end · Colorado
Returning around him
- 14% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- Transfer portal: +4 net (42 in / 38 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Colorado · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #39 · 2026 recruiting class #67
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 Boden Groen’s 2024 season.
Matches Boden on
Height
Weight
Yards / reception
Differs from Boden on
Class year (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Trent Tyre's freshman season at South Alabama (2020).
83%match
Matches Trent on
Class year
Height
Yards / reception
Differs from Trent on
Reception volume (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Zach Atkins
Background
AT COLORADO 2025 (Jr.) Played in all 12 games, starting in seven including the final five of the season. Finished the season fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 149 receiving yards. Against Houston he registered his first carry and touchdown after recovering a fumble by Ryan Staub and fell...
The tight end room · Colorado
- #85Zach Atkins149 receiving yards · 2025
- #89Fisher Clements1 game · 2025
- #86Brady Kopetzno box-score line yet
- #87Charlie Williams2 games · 2026
- #88Corbin Laisureno box-score line yet
1 more on the roster · Colorado team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology