CFB Recruiting 200: Top 6 Tight Ends
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report recruiting analysts Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports' composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis. As national signing day draws near, Bleacher Report provides a position-by-position breakdown of the best college football recruits. Here we present the Top Tight Ends.
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Long gone are the days when tight ends were primarily tasked with blocking duties and only an occasional intermediate route. The position's complexion drastically changed in recent decades, and this latest crop of standouts proves the evolution process remains ongoing.
These premier 2015 recruits are ready to measure their games against collegiate competition and vie for early roles with powerhouse programs. We focused on tight ends listed among the top 200 overall players in 247Sports' composite rankings, rating each athlete with a 100-point scale based on hands, route-running, blocking, release, speed and agility.
All prospects studied and graded by Bleacher Report national recruiting analyst Tyler Donohue. Players listed in order of 247Sports composite rankings.
6. 4-Star C.J. O'Grady
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Height/Weight: 6'4"/230 lbs
High School: Fayetteville High School; Fayetteville, Arkansas
247Sports Ranking: No. 6 tight end; No. 198 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Committed to Arkansas on June 18, 2014
C.J. O'Grady opted to stay in his hometown, announcing a commitment to the Razorbacks at the conclusion of his junior year. SEC foes Ole Miss and Mississippi also gave chase, along with Oklahoma and Louisville.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Deceptive speed (5/5) and agility (8/10) make him a matchup nightmare as an intermediate vertical threat. O'Grady forces his way into space with physicality and fights for the football with above-average reach.
His ability to leap for jump balls along the boundary should make him a go-to target on third down and goal-line situations. O'Grady can drop the hammer as a run-blocker but tends to use his shoulder at the point of contact rather than proper hand placement.
5. 4-Star Jackson Harris
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Height/Weight: 6'6"/250 lbs
High School: Columbia Central High School; Columbia, Tennessee
247Sports Ranking: No. 5 tight end; No. 190 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 86/100
Enrolled at Georgia
Jackson Harris rose to national prominence as a junior, collecting scholarship offers from Georgia, Virginia Tech and Louisville before the end of 2013. He spent time at Alabama and Vanderbilt last summer before committing to the Bulldogs in June.
Bleacher Report Analysis
The sport continues to shift toward the implementation of "hybrid" talents at tight end, but there will always be room for players like Harris. He received limited pass targets in high school but established himself as a reliable red-zone target and a punishing blocker (19/20).
Jackson won't challenge safeties downfield, but he's adept at identifying and settling into soft spots in intermediate areas of the defense. His ability to make grabs along the sidelines is also a major plus, setting the stage for him to become a reliable third-down target with surprisingly soft hands (24/25).
Ultimately, Jackson will earn his way onto the field as an asset in the rushing attack. His ability to get underneath opponents despite a tall frame allows him to gain an early upper hand and control the point of attack.
4. 4-Star Garrett Williams
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Height/Weight: 6'4"/220 lbs
High School: The First Academy; Orlando, Florida
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 tight end; No. 186 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 83/100
Committed to Clemson on May 19, 2014
Garrett Williams, the son of former Florida State fullback Dayne Williams, spurned the Seminoles by committing to Clemson. He focused on four options—Stanford, Auburn, Florida State and Clemson—as his decision neared, per Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Williams is well-suited for an H-back role that enables him to inflict damage from the offensive backfield. He spent the majority of his senior season taking handoffs, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry en route to 1,229 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, per MaxPreps.
He also slipped into space, especially exploiting the flat, while racking up a career-high 15 catches for 256 yards. Williams displays soft hands (24/25) on limited opportunities and actually hauled in a score at the Under Armour All-America Game.
He must develop more bulk to become a more dynamic force in blocking settings, but his penchant for gaining separation with regularity makes him a candidate for early consideration at Clemson.
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3. 4-Star Hale Hentges
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Height/Weight: 6'5"/230 lbs
High School: Helias High School; Jefferson City, Missouri
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 tight end; No. 145 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Committed to Alabama on May 25, 2014
Hale Hentges' recruitment heated up last winter, as at least a dozen offers arrived in February alone. He chose the Crimson Tide over fellow finalist Missouri, a nearby program that aimed to keep him on home turf.
Bleacher Report Analysis
I graded out Hentges higher than any member of this list because he approaches every situation with explosiveness. He's a tenacious blocker (20/20), sure-handed receiver (23/25) and precise route-runner (18/20).
His ability to attack different levels of the defense makes him a matchup issue on a week-to-week basis. Hentges' long strides and rangy catch radius set the stage for him to haul in difficult receptions in traffic.
He caught 113 passes for 1,909 yards and 26 scores as an upperclassman, providing evidence of big-play potential. Hentges dominates opponents in run blocking, sealing off the edge and driving defenders downfield with relentless aggression.
2. 4-Star Chris Clark
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Height/Weight: 6'6"/247 lbs
High School: Avon Old Farms; Avon, Connecticut
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 tight end; No. 85 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Uncommitted: Considering UCLA and Michigan
Chris Clark has traveled a long and winding recruiting trail since initially committing to North Carolina last spring. He switched his pledge to Michigan during the summer but backed off that verbal pact following the dismissal of Brady Hoke.
The arrival of Jim Harbaugh has reignited his interest in the Wolverines, who must now contend with UCLA for Clark's services.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Clark can consistently clear paths in the run game, earning a 17/20 grade for blocking. He also displays some of the softest hands of any receiver in this class, warranting a list-best score of 25/25 as a pass-catcher.
Despite being the main target in seven-on-seven action at a Nike camp event in New Jersey last April, Clark struggled to haul in a single pass as far as I saw. He gets off the line in a hurry, overmatches defensive backs with his size and can outmaneuver linebackers during intermediate efforts.
He isn't extremely agile (7/10) but displays a keen understanding of how to attack seams within the defense. Clark's well-rounded game lends itself well to early playing time at the university of his choice.
1. 4-Star Aliz'e Jones
6 of 6Height/Weight: 6'4.5"/218 lbs
High School: Bishop Gorman High School; Las Vegas
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 tight end; No. 62 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Committed to Notre Dame on Jan. 15, 2015
Aliz'e Jones earned considerable collegiate attention while serving as on offensive catalyst during three straight state-title runs at Bishop Gorman. UCLA offered him as a sophomore, and he accepted the opportunity eight months later.
However, he opted to flip from the Bruins to Notre Dame less than a month shy of signing day.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Jones is another "hybrid" target who worked predominately at wide receiver during high school. Typically split out wide, he showed off reliable hands (24/25) while snagging 76 passes for 1,501 yards and 23 touchdowns as an upperclassman.
He isn't a pass-catcher primed to burn defensive backs vertically on a regular basis, but sharp route running (18/20) and impressive burst set the stage for him to routinely exploit the seam 10-15 yards downfield. Jones is physical, fights for positioning and understands how to attack space in the defense.
His most impressive plays often occur on crossing patterns, which he often punctuates with sizable gains after the reception. Jones must essentially learn how to handle blocking duties from scratch, but his prowess as a receiver should bode well for the development of Notre Dame's downfield attack.
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