For the past two seasons, E.J. Bibbs was the man at tight end for the ISU football team.

Bibbs created a legacy of sorts at Iowa State in his short time in a Cyclone uniform, even becoming one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award — given to the top tight end in the country.

Now with Bibbs attempting to make a name for himself in the NFL, the Cyclones are searching for a replacement.

“They’re banged up a little bit, too, camp banged up,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “I would expect them to be on the practice field on Tuesday when we go again … Overall in camp, Cole [Anderson], Benny [Boesen] and Justin [Chandler] have been getting the bulk of the work, and Scotty [Schaffner] has shown up in the passing game. We’ve used all four of them in camp.”

But the one who currently sits atop the depth chart is redshirt senior Ben Boesen.

Boesen, a Des Moines native, hasn’t had much game experience in the past. He played in eight games as a reserve tight end and on special teams during the 2013 season. In 2014 he played in all 12 games, primarily on special teams.

Coaches say, however, they have seen constant improvement from Boesen through the season. In fact, prior to the start of the 2014 season, coaches placed Boesen on scholarship.

And while Boesen has been mainly a blocking tight end in the past, he said the transition to working more on the passing game hasn’t been too difficult. As to which he prefers, he just wants to help out the team in any way he can.

“Obviously you get glory in the pass game,” Boesen said. “Fans like catching passes and so do the players. But I’m a team player. I’m really about whatever they use me for I’m going to try to do my best at it. If that’s blocking game, run game that’s were I’m going to try to excel. If that’s the passing game, I’m going to try to do that as well as I can.”

Offensive coordinator Mark Mangino, who has worked with Boesen the past two years, said he has had a tremendous fall camp this season.

“[Boesen has] had his best camp since he’s been here and he’s had one of the best camps of the kids on offense,” Mangino said. “He’s improved himself in every way in the offseason. He’s stronger, he’s quicker, he controls his body better and he’s caught balls until his hands turn blue. Right now he’s been one of the most dependable tight ends that we have catching the football.”

But whether it’s Boesen or one of the many other tight ends on the team who takes the field this fall, one thing is certain. They are all simply focused on the team’s success.

“Success for the tight ends is success for the football team,” Boesen said. “If the tight ends are doing well and the football team is succeeding, that’s all we need. We’re just trying to do our part.”