{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Travis Vokolek | currentteam = | number = | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|6|4}} | birth_place = Springfield, Missouri, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 260 | high_school = Kickapoo (Springfield) | college = Rutgers (2017–2018)<br>Nebraska (2019–2022) | undraftedyear = 2023 | pastteams = * Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2023}})* * Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2023|2025}}) | status = | highlights = | pfr = V/VokoTr00 |image=File:2022 FB UM vs Nebraska061 (52498863257) (cropped).jpg}} '''Travis Vokolek''' (born June 4, 1998) is an American professional football tight end. He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Nebraska Cornhuskers.
==Early years== Vokolek grew up in Springfield, Missouri and attended Kickapoo High School. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Rutgers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2017/01/travis_vokolek_6-foot-6_3-star_te_commits_to_rutge.html|title=Travis Vokolek, 6-foot-6, 3-star TE, commits to Rutgers football|first=Todderick|last=Hunt|website=NJ.com|date=January 29, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2023}}</ref>
==College career== Vokolek began his college football career at Rutgers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2022/07/nebraska-te-travis-vokolek-reflects-on-time-at-rutgers-previews-return-to-piscataway-this-fall.html|title=Nebraska TE Travis Vokolek reflects on time at Rutgers, previews return to Piscataway this fall|first=Brian|last=Fonseca|website=NJ.com|date=July 26, 2022|access-date=August 8, 2023}}</ref> he played in seven games and caught one pass for 14 yards during his freshman season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/Article/Rutgers-tight-end-Travis-Vokolek-is-coming-off-a-strong-spring-117378135/|title=Travis Vokolek growing into one of Rutgers' top weapons|first=Brian|last=Fonseca|website=247Sports.com|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=August 8, 2023}}</ref> Vokolek played in all 12 of the Scarlet Knights' games with seven starts and had 16 receptions for 184 yards ad two touchdowns as a sophomore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2019/07/nebraska-thrilled-to-have-special-travis-vokolek-transfer-in-from-rutgers.html|title=Nebraska thrilled to have 'special' Travis Vokolek transfer in from Rutgers|first=James|last=Kratch|website=NJ.com|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=August 8, 2023}}</ref> He entered the NCAA transfer portal at the end of the regular season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2019/04/rutgers-tight-end-travis-vokolek-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal.html|title=Rutgers tight end Travis Vokolek wants out: Files for a transfer|first1=Keith|last1=Sargeant|first2=James|last2=Kratch|website=NJ.com|date=April 17, 2019|access-date=August 8, 2023}}</ref>
Vokolek transferred to Nebraska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabriel |first=Parker |date=June 11, 2019 |title=Rutgers transfer TE Vokolek, familiar with NU, calls playing for Huskers 'dream come true' |url=https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/rutgers-transfer-te-vokolek-familiar-with-nu-calls-playing-for-huskers-dream-come-true/article_df50927c-9ab7-5746-a299-ac1d62a08844.html |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=Lincoln Journal Star}}</ref> He sat out the 2019 season and redshirted in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nebraska.rivals.com/news/expectations-high-for-transfer-te-vokolek|title=Expectations high for transfer TE Vokolek|first=Nate|last=Clouse|website=Rivals.com|date=April 20, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2023}}</ref> As a redshirt senior, he had 11 receptions for 127 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/steven-m-sipple-in-learning-about-whipples-system-keep-tight-ends-foremost-in-thoughts/article_e02a052f-eb38-5689-ad3e-c2359d6c606d.html|title=In learning about Whipple's system, keep tight ends foremost in thoughts|first=Steven M.|last=Sipple|work=Lincoln Journal Star|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref> He decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and return to Nebraska for a sixth season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/a-key-in-te-vokoleks-decision-to-return-to-huskers-knowing-sean-beckton-would-be/article_0a7d7a2f-7e91-51e1-b26c-70e11026b028.html|title=A key in TE Vokolek's decision to return to Huskers? Knowing Sean Beckton would be back, too|work=Lincoln Journal Star|date=March 21, 2022|access-date=August 14, 2023}}</ref> Vokolek caught 20 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in his final season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2023/04/26/southwest-missouri-2023-nfl-draft-travis-vokolek-jason-shelley-ronnie-bell-ty-scott/70147531007/|title=Nebraska's Travis Vokolek could be taken in 2023 NFL Draft|work=Springfield News-Leader|date=April 26, 2023|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 6 1/8 | weight = 259 | shuttle = 4.35 | cone drill = 7.23 | vertical = 31.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 7 | bench = 20 | arm span = 32 7/8 | hand span = 9 1/2 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 7 1/8 | note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travis Vokolek Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/travis-vokolek/3200564f-4b42-6541-c240-cd2c6860827b |access-date=August 23, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Travis Vokolek College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1046478&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref> }}
=== Baltimore Ravens === Vokolek was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/high-school/2023/04/29/travis-vokolek-baltimore-ravens-nfl-draft-nebraska-kickapoo-rutgers-undrafted-udfa/70167111007/|title=NFL Draft 2023: Former Kickapoo star Travis Vokolek signing with Baltimore Ravens|first=Wyatt D.|last=Wheeler|work=Springfield News-Leader|date=April 29, 2023|access-date=August 8, 2023}}</ref> He was waived on August 29, and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Takeaways From Ravens' Initial 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/takeaways-ravens-roster-cuts-53-man-2023|author=Mink, Ryan|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=August 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ravens Add One More, Practice Squad Now Full|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-set-initial-practice-squad-2023|author=Mink, Ryan|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=August 31, 2023}}</ref>
=== Arizona Cardinals === On December 20, 2023, Vokolek was signed from the Ravens' practice squad to the Arizona Cardinals' active roster as a replacement for the injured Geoff Swaim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-21 |title=Cardinals' Travis Vokolek: Hooks up with Arizona |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/cardinals-travis-vokolek-hooks-up-with-arizona/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref> At the 2024 season, Vokolek made the team's initial 53-man roster as the Cardinals' fourth-string tight end behind Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, and Tip Reiman.
Vokolek reprised his role for the 2025 season, making five appearances (one start) and recording two tackles on special teams. In Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, Vokolek suffered a season-ending neck injury after colliding with Colts linebacker Segun Olubi and was placed on injured reserve.<ref>{{cite web | last=Weinfuss | first=Josh | title=Cardinals' Travis Vokolek (neck) to IR, out for rest of season | website=ESPN.com | date=2025-10-15 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46605540/cardinals-travis-vokolek-neck-ir-rest-season | access-date=2026-03-04}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.azcardinals.com/team/players-roster/travis-vokolek/ Arizona Cardinals bio] *[https://scarletknights.com/sports/football/roster/travis-vokolek/5700 Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio] *[https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/season/2022/player/travis-vokolek Nebraska Cornhuskers bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vokolek, Travis}} Category:Living people Category:American football tight ends Category:Arizona Cardinals players Category:Baltimore Ravens players Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players Category:Players of American football from Missouri Category:1998 births Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players Category:Sportspeople from Springfield, Missouri Category:American people of Czech descent