Oklahoma TE Kade McIntyre Looking to ‘Control the Controllable’ in Fourth Season

NORMAN — Kade McIntyre’s first two seasons in Norman haven’t gone as planned.

A native of Fremont, NE, McIntyre enrolled at Oklahoma in 2023. He came to OU with high expectations, ranked the No. 24 tight end in the Class of 2023 by On3.

But despite those expectations, McIntyre hasn’t consistently produced for the Sooners.

In three seasons, McIntyre has appeared in only nine games and caught just one pass. McIntyre has missed several games in each of the last two seasons due to undisclosed injuries.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news.

“I came out here wanting everything to go the right way; it didn’t go that way,” McIntyre said.

McIntyre’s lone catch came in his true freshman season, when he logged a 26-yard reception against Arkansas State. He played in just one more game that year and preserved his redshirt.

It appeared that McIntyre’s role would grow in 2024, as he appeared in several of the Sooners’ early-season games. But an injury limited his playing time, and he played in just one game — against Maine — in the second half of OU’s season.

The tight end played against Temple in 2025, but he suffered an injury in that game, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.

“I had to go back and work on everything — rehab, getting everything back,” McIntyre said. “I come back, it kind of happens to me again… (it was) even more frustrating cause you feel like you’re ready to go, but I have to keep my head down and keep working.”

Despite the persistent hardships that have plagued McIntyre throughout his college career, he still believes that he’s in the right place.

McIntyre said his three injury-riddled seasons have taught him much about being a leader and helping elevate his team — even if he can’t contribute on the field.

“Those guys coming up to me and having to ask me questions, I feel like I’ve been a leader in that way and helped them out,” McIntyre said. “During practice, I’m slowly working back into things. They’re asking how reps look, giving feedback.”

It’s hard to predict what McIntyre’s role will look like in 2026.

On one hand, McIntyre is entering his fourth year in Norman, which is the most of any tight end on OU’s roster. But on another, a few of the other tight ends on the depth chart have been more productive at the college level.

The Sooners added three tight ends — Hayden Hansen, Rocky Beers and Jack Van Dorselaer — from the transfer portal in January, and they signed true freshmen Ryder Mix and Tyler Ruxer in December. McIntyre is one of three returners at the position from the 2025 team, along with John Locke Jr. and Trynae Washington.

The position group is also under new leadership. OU hired Jason Witten to replace longtime tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley in January.

In spite of all of these changes, McIntyre never thought of departing Norman.

“I love this place,” McIntyre said. “I didn’t want to leave, no matter what the situation was.”

McIntyre may be a depth piece in the tight end room. Or, he may rise to a key on-field role in his fourth season.

Regardless of how the depth chart shakes out, McIntyre believes that he can help elevate the position group in 2026.

“I love new guys coming in, I love competition… honestly, it’s control the controllable.,” McIntyre said. “You bring in dudes, everybody’s going to be a dude in the room. I think locker room wise, we’re getting closer.”