Elon, N.C. – Leading up to the start of the 2025 Elon football season, we will take a look at each position ahead of Elon's first game against Duke on August 28. Our fourth look will be at the tight ends coached by Matt Ford. This preseason report is presented by Courtyard Marriot.  

  

Foster. Williams. Miller. Hardy. 

 

Names that have featured at tight end and have all been key contributors to Elon's success since Tony Trisciani became the head coach in 2019. The next name on that list appears to be Dylan Magazu. After being selected as a Phil Steele All-CAA Third Team pick in 2024, Magazu was named a Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention prior to the start of the 2025 season.  

 

"I think it speaks more towards the coaching," Magazu said. "Coach Ford has done a great job with me. I came in as a quarterback from high school, so I didn't have much experience playing tight end. I just learned from Coach Ford and all the guys before me like J.C. (Johncarlos Miller) and Cody (Hardy)."  

  

Ford is in his third season with the tight ends and has already seen two All-CAA performers in Johncarlos Miller – who excelled for the Phoenix between 2021-23 – and Magazu. He helped guide Miller to one of the best seasons from a tight end in Elon history in 2023, when Miller became Elon's Division I single-game, single-season and career receiving yards record holder for tight ends. 

 

"We've done a good job here of finding athletes that fit the mold of an explosive tight end," Ford said. "It's just using the athleticism that they have and growing the mental part and that's the part you see on the field. They've been really successful because they've mentally done a great job and physically used the tools that were God given to them." 

 

Joining Magazu in the tight end room is fifth-year Phoenix Davis LeDoyen. After not appearing in a game during his first two years at Elon, LeDoyen has since been a consistent feature on the field, and appeared in all 12 games last season.  

  

"The things he does well, he does consistently well," Ford said. "Having a guy who has played football and played it at a winning level was something important to us. Having a senior in the room just from a leadership standpoint is extremely beneficial...from a consistency standpoint you can sleep at night knowing you have a guy like LeDoyen."   

   

"We both started playing tight end the same year, so we didn't have much experience blocking and then we were able to get ourselves into a position where we were able to play a lot," Magazu said. "We have great relationships with the guys that are in here, so I think it will be really easy for us to bring guys along, and show them really how to put work in."  

   

Joining the two veterans in the room are a redshirt freshman and two true freshmen. Jack O'Connell redshirted last season and comes in as another converted quarterback, but should find playing time this season. The two true freshmen featured are Brendan Hester and Max Troiano. Hester was voted as an all-region tight end three times during his high school career and had an average of 10.8 yards per reception during his time at Denmark High School (Cumming, Georgia).   

  

  

  

Brendan Hester | Fr. | 6'4 | 225 | Cumming, Ga.  

Davis LeDoyen | R-Sr. | 6'3 | 230 | Dunwoody, Ga.   

Dylan Magazu | R-So. | 6'2 | 236 | Newtown, Conn.    

Jack O'Connell | R-Fr. | 6'5 | 220 | Wake Forest, N.C.   

Max Troiano | Fr. | 6'2 | 230 | Arlington, Va.