There was nothing special in
the tight end class, if anything it was a little under
represented until the Juniors came out in force. Led by
super specimen Vernon Davis this shapes up to be a very good
tight end class.
Top
Tight Ends
1
. Vernon
Davis, 6-3,
254, Maryland (Jr.):
An unbelievable athlete, Vernon Davis
has amazing strength for a player with
his speed and agility. He has good size
and soft hands but could face some
troubles trying to block linebackers at
the next level. He is best fit into a
passing offense and can be an
unbelievable upgrade to the right
offense. Probably one of the best tight
end prospects to come along in some time
and his impact will likely be close to
that of Tony Gonzalez.
Davis is the best pure athlete at the tight
end position in this year's draft class. He lacks
ideal size and has some room to improve as a
blocker, but his overall combination of physical
tools and playmaking savvy are what make him the
premier prospect at his position in 2006. After
verifying his exceptional speed, power and agility
at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine, Davis should be
considered a top-10 draft prospect in this year's
class.
FoxSports:
Genetic marvel whose workouts make him appear
to be as much of a decathlete prospect as an NFL
tight end hopeful. A truly elite player with the
potential to be the productive tight end that
injury-plagued Kellen Winslow Jr. was expected to be
when he came out in 2004. Best catch-and-run tight
end in college football last year with ability to
outrun defensive backs, then out-jump or outmuscle
anybody in the deep seven. Not as tall as great
tight ends of today, but combines athleticism and
strength to get the job done with emphasis as a
blocker. Fluid runner lined up at fullback, H-back
and flanker during his career. Shocking Indy Combine
workout included 40-yard time of 4.38 seconds, 33
reps with 225 pounds and a 42-inch vertical leap
2.
Marcedes Lewis,
6-7, 261, UCLA:
Marcedes Lewis's size makes him a great downfield
target, especially with his ability to go up and get
a ball he has incredible athleticism for his size
and excellent body control and has probably the best
hands of any tight end in the nation, rarely
dropping a ball that comes his way.
Lewis still has room to improve
in terms of his blocking technique, lower-body
strength and overall route running savvy. His lack
of straight-line speed could also hurt him on draft
day. However, we still view Lewis as a potential
impact maker in the NFL. After adding bulk and
strength last offseason, Lewis was an improved
blocker in 2005. He also has the frame, hands and
athletic ability to generate mismatches in the
passing game. In our opinion, Lewis warrants
consideration late in the first round and he would
be a steal if he falls to the middle of Round 2.
FoxSports:
Won the 2005 Mackey Award, given to the top
tight end in the major college ranks. Former prep
basketball star was offered a dozen scholarships in
that sport. Emerged as a clutch pass catcher during
his senior year, demonstrating the ability to turn a
short catch into a big gainer. Collected 54
receptions for 741 yards (12.8 avg.) and 10
touchdowns last season. Solid, but not spectacular
at the Senior Bowl. Long-legged player must learn
how to use leverage. As a receiver, his basketball
experience is obvious in the way he uses his body to
shield defenders from the ball and catches well with
his hands. At the Combine ran a mediocre 4.80, as
expected, but showed explosiveness (37-inch
vertical) and strength (23 reps).
3. Leonard Pope, 6-8, 258, Georgia
:
Leonard is a matchup nightmare at 6'8" there is just
no one out there who can up for a ball with him.
Being this tall and having the frame to get a little
heavier he could become a force on an offense that
will become very hard to stop. He could develop into
a monster in the right system.
Pope is a tall, lean tight end prospect with
room to improve in terms of his bulk, strength and
overall blocking ability. However, he has the frame
to get bigger and he already has a wide wingspan.
What makes Pope so intriguing as an NFL prospect are
his outstanding speed, athletic ability and
pass-catching skills for a tight end with such a big
frame. He will need some developmental time early in
his career and might not be ready to take over as a
fulltime starter right away, but if he develops
fully Pope has a chance to become an impact player a
few years down the road in the NFL
FoxSports:
Considered a better athlete than football
player so far. Has the upside to cause a team to
reach early. Possibly the tallest receiver in D1-A
last year, Pope has that perfect blend of size,
strength and speed needed to consistently stretch
the defense and break tackles to gain extra yardage.
Ran a 4.62 in the 40 at the Combine and posted a
37.5-inch vertical, along with 22 reps. Spent a year
at Hargrove Military Academy before entering Georgia
in 2003. Unanimous All-SEC selection in 2005. He
started eleven games and was suspended from the
Louisiana-Monroe contest for a dorm room incident.
He has a basketball player's frame with excellent
arm length and good overall muscle development
4.
Joe Klopfenstein, 6-6, 255, Colorado:
From a measurable standpoint he has what teams are
looking for. although he may never rank amongst the
elite tight ends in the league as he is not quick or
explosive. However he will work hard and can be in
the second tier of starting tight ends.
Klopfenstein is a fast-rising tight end
prospect that greatly improved his draft stock with
an impressive senior campaign in 2005. He still
needs to improve his bulk and lower body strength.
Klopfenstein also lacks consistency as a run blocker
and will always have some limitations in that area.
However, he has a great frame and continues to get
bigger. Most importantly, he is an impressive
athlete with the speed and hands to stretch the
field vertically as an H-back type in the NFL.
Klopfenstein has secured a spot on Day 1 of the 2006
draft and he could come off the board as high as the
second round after impressive performances in
post-season (Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine)
FoxSports:
A gifted athlete who was the overall strength
and conditioning champion on the team as a senior.
Started 34 of his 44 games for the Buffaloes, and
earned Big 12 conference honors the past three
seasons, including first-team honors as a senior
when he caught 33 passes for 468 yards (14.5 avg.)
and four scores. Nine of his catches were for 20
yards or longer. Through much of his career, split
playing time with Quinn Sypniewski (listed as a
potential sixth or seventh rounder by
NFLDraftScout.com). Caught the attention of a lot of
scouts at the Senior Bowl and has improved his stock
since. His Combine effort was respectable, with a
4.63 in the 40, 27 reps and a 36-inch vertical.
5.
Anthony Fasano, 6-4,
259, Notre Dame (Jr.)
:
One of the best all-around (blocking and receiving)
tight ends in the draft Anthony is not very flashy
and won't amaze you with his physical tools but he
possesses top intangibles and just gets the job
done. He does a lot of things well and will play
hard for the entire game. He lacks the upside and
game breaking ability of other tight ends in this
years draft, but Fasano should be a solid NFL tight
end.
Fasano possesses the frame to continue to get
bigger and he shows the technique and toughness to
develop into an efficient all-around blocker. Fasano
also has the mobility, quickness, hands and
instincts to emerge as a reliable
short-to-intermediate weapon in the passing game.
Simply put; Fasano is a very good prospect at the
tight end position but he's a step down from the
elite class. As a result, we feel that Fasano will
be a bit of a reach in the first round of the 2006
draft but that he absolutely warrants second round
consideration.
FoxSports:
Not a standout natural athlete, as his
Combine performance indicates (4.86 in the 40, 19
reps, 33.5-inch vertical jump. Significantly
improved his 40 time at the Notre Dame Pro Day
(4.71) and is considered a developing prospect who
made the decision to leave school early because
he'll be graduating next month. With the arrival of
head coach Charlie Weis, the tight end position
became a vital cog in the offense and Fasano began
catching passes and attention last year when he
grabbed a career-high 47 passes for 576 yards (12.3
avg.) and two scores. A big target over the middle,
has a feel for coverage and does a nice job of
getting open in time for the quarterback to get the
ball to him. Makes good body adjustments to the ball
in flight and has the ability to make the catch
despite tight coverage.
The rest of the best
Dominique Byrd, 6-3,
255, USC
Tim Day, 6-3, 256, Oregon
David Thomas, 6-3, 252, Texas
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