Travis Vokolek
_(cropped).jpg) | |
| No. 81, 84 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Tight end |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 4, 1998 Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Kickapoo (Springfield) |
| College | Rutgers (2017–2018) Nebraska (2019–2022) |
| NFL draft | 2023: undrafted |
| Career history | |
* Offseason or practice squad member only | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Travis Vokolek (born June 4, 1998) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Early life
[edit]Vokolek grew up in Springfield, Missouri and attended Kickapoo High School. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Rutgers University.[1]
College career
[edit]Vokolek began his college career with the Scarlet Knights.[2] he played in seven games and caught one pass for 14 yards during his freshman season.[3] Vokolek played in all 12 of Rutgers' games with seven starts and had 16 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore.[4] He entered the NCAA transfer portal at the end of the regular season.[5]
Vokolek transferred to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.[6] He sat out the 2019 season and redshirted in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.[7] As a redshirt senior, he had 11 receptions for 127 yards.[8] He decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and return to the Cornhuskers for a sixth season.[9] Vokolek caught 20 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in his final season.[10]
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 6+1⁄8 in (1.98 m) | 259 lb (117 kg) | 32+7⁄8 in (0.84 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 6 ft 7+1⁄8 in (2.01 m) | 4.35 s | 7.23 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) | 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) | 20 reps | |||
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12] | ||||||||||||
Baltimore Ravens
[edit]Vokolek was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023.[13] He was waived on August 29, and re-signed to the practice squad.[14][15]
Arizona Cardinals
[edit]On December 20, 2023, Vokolek was signed from the Ravens' practice squad to the Arizona Cardinals' active roster as a replacement for the injured Geoff Swaim.[16] At the 2024 season, Vokolek made the team's initial 53-man roster as the Cardinals' fourth-string tight end behind Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, and Tip Reiman.
Vokolek reprised his role for the 2025 season, making five appearances (one start) and recording two tackles on special teams. In Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, Vokolek suffered a season-ending neck injury after colliding with Colts linebacker Segun Olubi and was placed on injured reserve.[17]
On July 22, 2026, Vokolek announced his retirement from professional football, a forced medical retirement that was a result of his neck injury from the previous season.[18]
References
[edit]- ↑ Hunt, Todderick (January 29, 2017). "Travis Vokolek, 6-foot-6, 3-star TE, commits to Rutgers football". NJ.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ↑ Fonseca, Brian (July 26, 2022). "Nebraska TE Travis Vokolek reflects on time at Rutgers, previews return to Piscataway this fall". NJ.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Fonseca, Brian (April 16, 2018). "Travis Vokolek growing into one of Rutgers' top weapons". 247Sports.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Kratch, James (July 18, 2019). "Nebraska thrilled to have 'special' Travis Vokolek transfer in from Rutgers". NJ.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Sargeant, Keith; Kratch, James (April 17, 2019). "Rutgers tight end Travis Vokolek wants out: Files for a transfer". NJ.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Gabriel, Parker (June 11, 2019). "Rutgers transfer TE Vokolek, familiar with NU, calls playing for Huskers 'dream come true'". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Clouse, Nate (April 20, 2020). "Expectations high for transfer TE Vokolek". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ↑ Sipple, Steven M. (March 31, 2022). "In learning about Whipple's system, keep tight ends foremost in thoughts". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ↑ "A key in TE Vokolek's decision to return to Huskers? Knowing Sean Beckton would be back, too". Lincoln Journal Star. March 21, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ↑ "Nebraska's Travis Vokolek could be taken in 2023 NFL Draft". Springfield News-Leader. April 26, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Travis Vokolek Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Travis Vokolek College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ↑ Wheeler, Wyatt D. (April 29, 2023). "NFL Draft 2023: Former Kickapoo star Travis Vokolek signing with Baltimore Ravens". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Mink, Ryan (August 29, 2023). "10 Takeaways From Ravens' Initial 53-Man Roster". BaltimoreRavens.com.
- ↑ Mink, Ryan (August 31, 2023). "Ravens Add One More, Practice Squad Now Full". BaltimoreRavens.com.
- ↑ "Cardinals' Travis Vokolek: Hooks up with Arizona". CBSSports.com. December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ↑ Weinfuss, Josh (October 15, 2025). "Cardinals' Travis Vokolek (neck) to IR, out for rest of season". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Travis Vokolek: Medically retiring from NFL". CBS Sports. July 23, 2026. Retrieved July 23, 2026.