Scouting Blog

Tight End Scouting Notes

By: Ed Hunt

 

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa (1)

-can line up all around the field (FB, Slot, TE)

-Aggressive blocker

-Decent hands

-Good speed

-needs to become a better square blocker

 

Noah Fant, TE, Iowa (2)

-decent in-line blocker

-needs to get lower as a blocker

-advanced route runner

-great speed, lit up the combine

-drops are a problem

 

Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M (underrated) (3)

-good toughness in the middle of the field to make catches

-good blocker

-has a bit of trouble blocking downfield

-good route runner

-good YAC guy

 

Irv Smith Jr, TE, Alabama (4)

-good catch radius

-natural blocker

-precise route runner

-needs to have more violence when blocking

-decent hands

 

Caleb Wilson, TE, UCLA (5)

-aggressive blocker

-needs to work on blocking form

-average route runner

-good hands

-good awareness in pass blocking

 

Zach Gentry, TE, Michigan (overrated)

-not a good inline blocker

-needs to run better routes

-wasn’t getting separation

-struggles pass blocking

-needs better awareness

 

Kendall Blanton, TE, Missouri (overrated)

-needs to square better as a blocker

-below average blocker

-lined up in the slot and inline

-not getting separation on routes

-drops are a problem

 

Foster Moreau, TE, LSU (underrated)

-decent in-line blocker

-asked to block a lot in LSU’s offense

-wasn’t really a factor in the passing game

-has a mean streak

-showed some receiving ability at the senior bowl

 

Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State (sleeper)

-good blocker

-decent route runner

-blocks on the second level

-uses his feet well when blocking

-good hands

-ran a 4.67 40

 

Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford

-average blocker

-good catch radius

-ran a lot of simple routes at Stanford

-lined up in the slot at times

-not the best athlete. Ran a 4.9 40

 

C.J. Conrad, TE, Kentucky

-lined up in the backfield and slot

-solid blocker

-can move as a blocker

-not much of a receiver

-mostly used on TE screens

 

Alize Mack, TE, Notre Dame

-average in-line blocker

-terrible blocking form

-great hands

-lined up in the slot and at fullback

-decent route runner for a TE

 

Josh Oliver, TE, San Jose State

-can come up with 50-50 balls

-more of a receiving tight end

-didn’t really stand out in the Oregon game

-red zone target

-big hands (10.75 inches)

 

Dax Raymond, TE, Utah State

-lined up in the slot and in-line

-needs to put in more effort as a blocker

-average route runner

-asked to block a lot more in space

-wasn’t asked to play a part in the passing game as much

 

Drew Sample, TE, Washington

-good blocking form

-tenacious blocker

-good route runner for a tight end

-wasn’t the main target for Jake Browning

-was getting open/has some potential as a receiver

 

Tommy Sweeney, TE, Boston College

-good effort as a blocker

-has some ability as a receiver

-wasn’t a prime target of Anthony Brown

-I’d like to see him cut more in his routes

-good blocking form

 

Keenen Brown, TE, Texas State

-lined up in the slot a lot

-good YAC guy

-soft blocker

-tweener between slot WR and TE

-good catch radius

 

Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss

-below average pass blocker

-decent in-line run blocker

-decent route runner

-lined up in the slot a lot

-good at breaking tackles after the catch

 

Matt Sokol, TE, Michigan State

-average blocker

-drops are a problem

-needs better leverage when blocking

-not getting separation

-is a capable pass catcher

 

Tyler Petite, TE, USC

-needs more power as a blocker

-not getting separation

-lined up in-line and in the slot

-asked to pass block, but didn’t pick up blitzes

-bad inline blocker