local-catcher-turned-junior tight end with size and upside
In the 2026 season, Jaxson Shupe is a 6-foot-2, 218-pound junior tight end for UTRGV who arrived as a homegrown Valley athlete and brings a nice blend of physical maturity and football familiarity from playing since childhood with teammate Jamal Polley.[1][6] His background suggests a reliable developmental fit: he starred at Robert Vela High School, and UTRGV highlights him as a physical therapy major who chose the program to help make history and “make the Valley proud,” which hints at buy-in, toughness, and team-first energy.[1][6] He is a compelling fit for teams that value local identity, steady development, and a hardworking TE room presence rather than just raw statistical production.[1][2]
