For years, the Texas Longhorns struggled to consistently send tight ends to the NFL.

Now, that pipeline may be quietly building.

After Ja'Tavion Sanders and Gunnar Helm were selected in back-to-back drafts, Jack Endries became the latest Texas tight end to hear his name called after being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals following his lone season in Austin.

And if that trend continues, sophomore Nick Townsend may be next in line.

Why Nick Townsend could be Texas’ next NFL tight end

Texas Longhorns tight end Nick Townsend (81) reaches for a pass during the second half against the San Jose State Spartans. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Endries’ path to the draft wasn’t exactly what many expected.

After transferring from Cal — where he posted 56 catches for 623 yards as a sophomore — he arrived in Austin as the clear receiving threat in Texas’ tight end room.…