Kyson Van Vugt

At 6-foot-7, Kyson Van Vugt brings size and positional versatility to Fresno State football. After beginning his collegiate career at Iowa as a tight end before transitioning to the offensive line, the Sioux Center native has continued developing his game with the Fresno State Bulldogs.

In football, some of the most important transformations happen away from the spotlight. A player changes positions, learns a new set of responsibilities and discovers that success sometimes requires leaving behind the role that first brought him to the game. For Kyson Van Vugt, that process has shaped a significant part of his college football journey.

The Fresno State offensive lineman arrived at the Bulldogs after spending three seasons at the University of Iowa, where he began his collegiate career as a tight end before moving to the offensive line. The transition demanded a different understanding of football, from blocking technique to the physical responsibilities of protecting teammates in the trenches.

Now a senior for Fresno State in 2026, Van Vugt represents a developmental path built around positional adaptation and continued opportunity. His story is not defined by a long list of individual awards or headline-grabbing statistics. Instead, it offers a look at the work behind becoming a more versatile football player and contributing within a competitive college program.

• Full Name: Kyson Van Vugt
• Sport: American football
• Position: Offensive lineman
• Jersey Number: 75
• Height: 6 feet, 7 inches
• Weight: 290 pounds
• Age: 23
• Birthplace: Sioux Center, Iowa
• College: Fresno State University
• Current Team: Fresno State Bulldogs
• Previous College: University of Iowa
• Classification: Senior
• High School: Western Christian High School

Van Vugt's football foundation was established in Sioux Center, Iowa, where he attended Western Christian High School. His high school experience reflected a broad athletic background rather than specialization in a single position. He played both tight end and defensive end, gaining experience on opposite sides of the ball and learning different aspects of the game.

His senior-season production demonstrated that versatility. On offense, he recorded 30 receptions for 409 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he registered 23 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks. Those figures illustrate an athlete who contributed in multiple roles and developed familiarity with the physical and technical requirements of different assignments.

Van Vugt also recorded 15 tackles, including four tackles for loss and three sacks, during his junior season. His high school accomplishments included first-team all-state and all-district recognition as a senior.

Football was not his only athletic pursuit. Van Vugt competed in basketball, baseball, track and golf. His high school basketball team won a state championship during his junior year, adding another achievement to his multi-sport background.

This experience established a varied athletic foundation before he entered college football. Playing multiple sports gave him opportunities to develop different movement skills and compete in different team environments while continuing his football development.

Van Vugt began his collegiate career at the University of Iowa in 2022. He spent three seasons with the Hawkeyes, initially entering the program as a tight end. His first year was a redshirt season, and he did not appear in a game.

During spring 2023, Van Vugt transitioned from tight end to offensive line. The move represented a significant change in his football responsibilities and the skills required to perform his role.

Tight ends balance receiving routes, catching passes and blocking assignments. Offensive linemen operate primarily in the trenches, where footwork, leverage, hand placement and coordinated movement determine whether an offense can execute its plans. The transition required Van Vugt to redirect his athletic abilities toward a different set of technical demands.

His earlier experience at tight end and defensive end provided familiarity with physical contact and blocking-related responsibilities, but playing on the offensive line required its own learning process. The position demands consistency, discipline and coordination with teammates on every play.

Van Vugt did not see game action in 2024. In 2025, he joined Fresno State, bringing experience from a major college football program to a new environment.

His first season with the Bulldogs marked a step forward in game participation. He appeared in 12 games and contributed on special teams. Although those contributions do not tell the entire story of an offensive lineman's development, his participation across the season established a role within the team's game-day structure.

At 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds, Van Vugt possesses the physical dimensions associated with college offensive-line play. His height provides a substantial frame for competing at the line of scrimmage, while his position requires coordinated movement, balance and the ability to execute blocking assignments against opposing defenders.

Physical measurements alone, however, do not determine an offensive lineman's effectiveness. The position also depends on technical execution, communication, awareness and the ability to recognize defensive alignments.

Van Vugt's history across multiple positions provides useful context for his development. His experience as a high school tight end and defensive end preceded his move to the offensive line in college. That progression demonstrates adaptability and a willingness to learn a different role within the game.

His contributions at Fresno State have included special teams, alongside his development as an offensive lineman. Continued experience in the program provides opportunities to refine his technique and compete for a larger role within the team's offensive structure.

Van Vugt's established accomplishments include his high school production, individual recognition and collegiate participation. His first-team all-state and all-district selections as a high school senior remain notable achievements in his football résumé.

His 409 receiving yards and two touchdowns, combined with his defensive statistics, demonstrate the breadth of his contributions at Western Christian. His multi-sport background, including participation on a state championship basketball team, further reflects his experience in competitive athletics.

At Fresno State, appearing in 12 games during the 2025 season and contributing on special teams marked an important part of his college career. His journey from Iowa to Fresno State also represents a change in environment and continued involvement in college football.

Van Vugt's athletic development has involved learning different positions and adapting to changing responsibilities. His transition from tight end to offensive line stands out as the defining shift in his collegiate career, requiring a different technical approach and understanding of the game.

His background in multiple sports also forms part of his athletic identity. Competing in basketball, baseball, track and golf before focusing on college football gave him experience across different competitive settings.

As he continues at Fresno State, his story reflects the developmental side of college athletics: learning a position, gaining experience and working within a team structure. His career illustrates that a player's progression does not always follow a straight line, and changes in role can become important parts of the journey.

For the 2026 season, Van Vugt is listed as a senior offensive lineman for Fresno State, wearing jersey No. 75. His 2025 campaign included appearances in 12 games and contributions on special teams.

His current stage of development places him among the experienced players in the program. The next step in his football career will depend on his continued development and the opportunities available within Fresno State's offensive line group.

His experience at Iowa, followed by his move to Fresno State, provides a foundation of exposure to different college football environments. As he progresses through his senior season, his focus remains on contributing to the Bulldogs and continuing his development as an offensive lineman.

Van Vugt's career illustrates a dimension of college football that can be overlooked when attention centers on quarterbacks, leading scorers and award winners. Players must adapt to changing assignments, learn new techniques and find ways to contribute within a team structure.

His transition from tight end to offensive lineman is the defining feature of his documented collegiate journey. His experience at Iowa, subsequent move to Fresno State and participation during the 2025 season provide a record of continued involvement in college football.

His journey also highlights the importance of versatility in athletic development. Moving between positions requires adjustments in technique and responsibilities, and his progression reflects the evolving nature of a college football career.

Kyson Van Vugt's football journey is a story of adaptation rather than instant recognition. From a multi-position high school athlete in Iowa to a senior offensive lineman at Fresno State, he has followed a path requiring adjustments in technique, responsibilities and football identity.

His record includes high school honors, production on both sides of the ball and a collegiate positional change followed by game participation at Fresno State. These milestones provide a grounded portrait of an athlete continuing to build his career.

For Van Vugt, the defining feature of the journey is the transition itself: learning a different role, adapting to a new college environment and continuing to pursue opportunities in football. His progression from Iowa to Fresno State offers a meaningful example of how a player's career can evolve through change, development and persistence.