Nagy growing into wide receiver position, ‘getting more vertical’ on returns

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas receiver Tate Nagy brings in a pass during the first day of KU Football's fall camp on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Lawrence.

Kansas wide receiver Tate Nagy had a quiet freshman season, which considering that he was immediately thrust into duty as the Jayhawks’ full-time punt returner was a rather favorable outcome.

The wideout from Overland Park, recently converted from high school quarterback at Blue Valley West, proved to be sure-handed throughout the year. He dropped one punt against West Virginia that immediately bounced back into his hands as he went out of bounds; otherwise, he made 17 fair catches, according to Pro Football Focus, and returned 17 more punts for 116 yards.

That made for the most punt-return yardage by a single Jayhawk since Nick Harwell in 2014. But Nagy is thinking bigger entering his sophomore year while still focusing on his most basic responsibility.

”It was good,” he said of 2025. “It wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. Obviously catching the ball is the first thing that I want to do, and then this year, I plan on getting more vertical this year. Last year, I ran a little bit side to side, and this year … I’m trying to get forward.”

Nagy definitely did his fair share of bobbing and weaving in the early stages of last season, although he did manage to record returns of 20, 21 and 30 yards in a three-week span, plus a 34-yard kick return. He didn’t accomplish quite as much as Big 12 play drew on but remained mistake-free. All the while, as he said last year, he received advice from his father Matt’s coworkers at the time with the Kansas City Chiefs, such as special teams coordinator Dave Toub and punt returner Nikko Remigio. (The elder Nagy is now working for the New York Giants.)

In any case, Nagy remains KU’s incumbent punt returner, special teams coach Taiwo Onatolu said recently, although dynamic running back Dylan Edwards figures to see some action there and especially in the kick-return role vacated by Emmanuel Henderson Jr.’s graduation.

“He’s a great person,” Nagy said of Edwards. “He’s fast. He’s super fast, he’s super quick and he’s fun to have as a teammate and a player. I want to block for him, I want to do all that kind of stuff so he can score.”

The question now is whether Nagy can also find some spots to get involved on offense. Starting slot receiver Cam Pickett has been banged up and missed several recent practices (he and head coach Lance Leipold expect him to be fine for the opener on Sept. 4). In a somewhat thinner receiver group this fall, Nagy has been in line for higher-level reps. Cole Ballard said that Nagy’s own experience playing quarterback helps him find spots in which to get open.

“He’s working through it right now,” wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel said. “Tate is one of those guys. He has such great vision and his instincts are so good. Sometimes your instincts can put you in the wrong place, and so that’s where he’s continuing to grow in, and understanding this offense and putting himself in position to make plays.

“He stands out when he runs a great route. We just got to make sure that we’re doing all those other little things to make sure that the details are part of his game.”

One key element that might help is improving his body. Nagy entered last season as the lightest player on KU’s roster at 165 pounds (he’s 5-foot-10). He still holds that title, although he is now listed at 170.

“I’ve gotten a little bit bigger than I have from last year, and I think that’s helped overall, is just feeling more comfortable on a football field,” he said.

Nagy said that in reviewing the film from his first season, it’s clear he was “a little bit raw” in his debut as a wideout: “Every single year, you just got to get better and continue to have that mindset, and that’s what I’m trying to do every single day.”

Much of that film likely came from practice, given that he only saw the field for 15 offensive snaps — he caught two passes for 20 yards — in 2025. As the apparent No. 5 wide receiver this year, his activity is sure to increase.