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COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Getting big numbers from the tight end position is nothing new in the Saint John's offense. 

Over the past several seasons alone, the Johnnies have had a three-time All-American in Alex Larson, followed by a back-to-back All-American in Joey Gendreau. 

The team is still getting a similar level of production at tight end this fall, but it's come with a twist. This time around, one player isn't carrying the entire load.  

It's been a two-man job. 

Charlie Plum, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior from Cretin-Derham Hall, and Andrew Harren, a 6-5, 230-pound senior out of Sauk Rapids, are seeing extensive playing time – sometimes both at once. 

And each player has responded. Heading into action against Carleton last Saturday, Plum had 24 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns while Harren had 16 receptions for 163 yards and two scores.  

Both players had key second-half touchdowns in a 24-21 season-opening win over Wisconsin-La Crosse on Sept. 5 while Plum hauled in a 42-yard touchdown pass in the Johnnies' 42-16 victory over Bethel on Oct. 3. 

Then Harren laid out for a key 13-yard catch in the second half of a come-from-behind 33-23 win over Concordia on Oct. 17. 

"Andrew and I have always been in pretty much the same spot on the depth chart," said Plum, who is back for a fifth season on a medical redshirt after breaking a thumb his freshman year. "We played JV together and we've steadily worked our way up. 

"Now that we're both on the field for a majority of the time, it's really cool. It gives us a chance to use the chemistry we've built, whether it's making calls or deciding who runs what route. Which one of us gets the ball and which one is blocking doesn't really matter. We're both going to do whatever it takes to help us win." 

Harren echoed that sentiment. 

"It's never been a contentious thing between us," he said. "I was really excited when I heard he was coming back because we build off each other. We each have our strengths and weaknesses, but we lean on each other and ask for help. 

"I just think that's a culture thing at Saint John's too. You can compete with one another for a spot and help each other at the same time. And the way it's worked out, we're both getting our touches. So that's perfect." 

Indeed, the Johnnie coaching staff couldn't be happier with the way things are going. 

"They're both athletic guys with bigger bodies," SJU coach Gary Fasching said. "They both catch the ball well and run great routes. And they've each stepped up and made plays when we've needed them too. I think every game we've played so far, one or both of them have come up with huge catches." 

Plum and Harren are excelling off the field as well.  

Harren, an accounting major, is a returning All-MIAC academic selection who already has a job offer from a big four accounting firm in the Twin Cities. 

Plum, meanwhile, has developed his own calf-stretching device and plans to begin marketing it in January. 

He already has a website set up (rigsramp.com). 

"I've been working on it for about a year-and-a-half," the exercise and health science major said. "My original plan was to go to physical therapy school next year. But I've started to get some really good traction so I think I'm going to give myself a year-and-a-half to go all in on this. 

"I had a mentor going back to high school named Roger Erickson (a noted St. Paul fitness, hydration and flexibility trainer)," Plum continued. "I started going to him because I couldn't stop spraining my ankles. He got me interested in physical therapy. He'd come up with something similar (to the calf-stretching device) when he was doing work for the Baltimore Ravens (through fellow Cretin-Derham Hall graduate Matt Birk) about 25 years ago.  

"When he passed away (in 2024), I got one of his original pieces of equipment. He'd never really tried to sell it. But I modified it and made it a little different. I know how much it helped me and I don't want it to disappear. Hopefully, it honors his legacy a little bit." 

Harren is among those who've tried it and come away impressed. 

"I use it every day," he said. "We have a few in the weight room and guys are always working with it. I think the fact that so many of our players use it is a testament to how effective it is. You get a really good stretch." 

Plum and Harren are now focused on stretching out the Johnnies' season as long as possible. 

"This team is special enough to win a national title and that should be our goal," Plum said. "That's not easy to do. We have to keep getting better every time out. But we have the talent to make it happen." 

"That's the ultimate goal," Harren added. "It would be the perfect way to go out."