B/R CFB 250: Top 7 Tight Ends
Bleacher Report's CFB 250 is an annual ranking of the best players in college football, regardless of NFL potential. Through interviews with B/R experts Matt Miller, Michael Felder, Barrett Sallee and Adam Kramer, authors Brian Leigh and Brian Pedersen have studied, ranked and graded the top athletes in the country, narrowed that list to 250 and sorted by position. Today, we present the Top Tight Ends.
Other CFB 250 Positions
How a team uses its tight ends says a lot about the style of offense it likes to play. It also speaks to the kind of talent it has at this underrated and unappreciated position.
The skill set needed to be both an adept blocker and an effective pass-catcher—while often being the size of a small lineman—rarely gets its due. Most tight ends toil in relative anonymity, except for those that made our list.
And it's a relatively small bunch compared to our last list, partly due to five of the top eight players graduating or turning pro. What remains, though, is still a strong group of all-around tight ends.
The following ranks are based primarily on players' skills in college, rather than how they'd fare in the NFL. Though they may be using this time to develop their game for the pro level, first and foremost their goals are centered around helping their teams succeed.
The rankings are based on a tabulation of five different categories (hands, route running, blocking, release and speed) and on evaluations made by our writers in conjunction with Bleacher Report football experts.
NOTE: Any ties in overall grade were broken based on which player would give a hypothetical college all-star team the best chance to win.
7. Josiah Price, Michigan State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Price will have a much bigger role in 2015, which isn't a bad thing. He was a touchdown magnet, even with limited touches, and his looks will go up this year. He has the prototypical size for an NFL tight end and will likely be one in the next few years."
—Adam Kramer
Hands
Six of the 26 receptions that Josiah Price had in 2014 went for touchdowns, so Michigan State wasn't afraid to trust him in key situations. He responded by watching the ball into his hands and quickly tucking it into his body in order to keep the play going.
Route Running
Falling off of the line and running up the seam worked just fine for Price, since he tended to get ignored by defenders despite being 6'4” and 252 pounds.
Blocking
Price was effective at sealing the edge in most situations, or driving his opponent away from the line to create a hole that Jeremy Langford could run through. Further improvement will enable the Spartans to keep running in his direction.
Release
Strong enough to fend off press coverage without being slowed too much, Price manages to give himself a decent cushion when guarded. He also has a good knack for slipping off of the line.
Speed
Price isn't particularly fast, but he can still leg out some big runs. Most of his catches went for less than 20 yards, but he did have a 67-yard catch-and-run against Indiana last year that saw him outrun defenders for quite a bit.
Overall
Price is a bit of a hidden gem in that Michigan State didn't go to him very often outside of the red zone. Look for him to see a more expanded role this season with a lack of experienced receivers on the roster, which should lead to greater production.
6. Jonnu Smith, Florida International
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Although he plays at a program where his efforts will go mainly unnoticed—at least away from the scouting world—Smith has the task of following up a stellar 2014 season. Slightly undersized but extremely athletic, Smith is already a matchup nightmare."
—Adam Kramer
Hands
The most prolific tight end in the country last season in terms of receptions (with 61), Jonnu Smith was far and away the top option for Florida International in the passing game. He's as reliable as they come at his position, hauling in almost everything that gets into his catch radius.
Route Running
Smith averaged 11.6 yards per reception in 2014, so he's not going very far off of the line. This is the result of running mostly short routes that call for him to find a hole in the middle of a zone or to settle into an area and make himself seen by the quarterback.
Blocking
Smith measures out at 6'3” and 230 pounds, which puts him on the low side for tight ends. That affects his ability to handle bigger defenders in blocking assignments, but he occasionally worked as a fullback as well.
Release
There's not much physicality to the way Smith tries to create separation, and this causes him to struggle against linebackers at times. But with great footwork he can establish position and get around defenders.
Speed
He has the speed of a typical tight end despite being closer in size to a receiver, though he's agile enough to wiggle away from tacklers and get some extra yardage at times.
Overall
Smith might not have such a defined role if he played for a bigger program, but he's exactly what Florida International needs in its offense. Most opponents can't guard him, and the Panthers will continue to exploit this mismatch in 2015.
5. O.J. Howard, Alabama
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B/R Expert Scouting
"He has all of the potential to be a superstar in the passing game, but his inability to pick up his game as a blocker has prevented him from earning consistent playing time. If he can do that, he could be the best tight end in the country."
—Barrett Sallee
Hands
O.J. Howard has a mere 31 receptions in his two seasons at Alabama. While he's made some big plays by being able to extend and reach off-line throws, he drops too many of the ones that are right to him.
Route Running
Alabama hasn't put Howard in situations where he needs to make any complicated moves in order to get open, which is wise because he's not very adept at doing so on simple routes. His best opportunities come when he's uncovered.
Blocking
A major weakness in Howard's game, he can't be trusted to handle that integral part of a tight end's job on run plays. He's been relegated to a passing-situation player until he can figure this out.
Release
If Howard can get off the line cleanly, he has the athleticism to create space and get open. However, because he's 6'6”, he often gets paired up against defensive ends who will slow his release and mess with his route.
Speed
This is where Howard makes up for a lot of his deficiencies, as he is among the fastest players at his position. He has both straight-line speed and lateral quickness that enables him to split defenders and outrace his pursuers.
Overall
A player with this much talent is at risk of being a bust if he can't put it all together, and this junior season is a make-or-break one for Howard. With better blocking and other technical areas cleaned up, he could be one of Alabama's top weapons.
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4. Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
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B/R Expert Scouting
"His potential and ceiling are off the charts, even while operating in an offense that has struggled mightily. Incredible size and great athleticism for his stature, he's one of the best red-zone options in the nation."
—Adam Kramer
Hands
Bucky Hodges came to Virginia Tech as a quarterback prospect, but the coaching staff quickly realized his 6'7”, 242-pound frame was much more suited to playing tight end. That included hands that swallow the ball when it comes his way, or even ones that are destined for the defender.
Route Running
Hodges finds himself lined up more in the slot than in the traditional tight end spot, yet most of his routes tend to be of the straightforward variety. If he's going to continue developing as a top target, he'll need to add more nuances.
Blocking
He's too valuable of a weapon to be wasted as a blocker. When in for run plays, Hodges still ends up going out on a route more often than staying in to create running lanes on the outside.
Release
Because of his height, Hodges can juke defenders with fakes at the shoulder level while remaining balanced at the hips, as he did in turning his man around en route to a game-winning touchdown against eventual national champion Ohio State.
Speed
Had Hodges remained a quarterback, he'd have been a deadly dual-threat weapon because of his quickness. He has a long and fluid stride that helps him pull away from the slower linebackers and safeties that often draw his assignment.
Overall
Hodges had a heck of a debut last season, but he's just getting started. The only thing keeping him from being a complete player at his position is the blocking issues, but his future might be more tuned toward becoming a full-time receiver.
3. Pharaoh Brown, Oregon
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B/R Expert Scouting
"If he's healthy, and goodness do I hope that he is, he's as explosive of a tight end as there is in the nation. Big, fast and physical, Brown can be special if he returns to form."
—Adam Kramer
Hands
Pharaoh Brown doesn't drop many passes that are thrown his way, which is why Oregon targeted him so often on the plus side of the field last season. All six of his touchdowns were caught inside opponents' 40-yard line, including four in the red zone, per CFBStats.com.
Route Running
Oregon has so many players going in all directions on pass plays that Brown is often forgotten, so he doesn't take on very complicated routes.
Blocking
Brown can be very hit-and-miss with his blocking assignments, either pinning someone expertly on the edge or driving him right into the play. On pass plays, though, he usually sold the run well.
Release
Brown is 6'6” and uses that length to his advantage when covered on the line. He can swim or chop past most defenders and use that to get separation for a manageable opening.
Speed
Brown can stretch the field when needed, and he's athletic enough to fake out defenders before they can get their hands on him.
Overall
A horrific leg injury against Utah last November ended Brown's season early—and nearly led to him needing to have the limb amputated, per Andrew Greif of the Oregonian. He's participating in fall practice and hopes to be able to make a full return, though whether he'll be the same player as before getting hurt is still uncertain.
2. Evan Engram, Ole Miss
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B/R Expert Scouting
"He is one of the most dynamic playmaking tight ends in the country. He has receiver speed, hands like glue and is a matchup nightmare for every opposing defensive coordinator."
—Barrett Sallee
Hands
Evan Engram was one of Ole Miss' top receiving targets last year, and he made the most of his opportunities thanks to some soft hands that were able to handle Bo Wallace's hard-but-wobbly throws. Engram is built more like a large running back than a tight end at 6'3” and 227 pounds, and he has receiver-like catching skills.
Route Running
Most of what Engram does involves lining up in the slot and either going up the seam or doing a slow drift toward the middle or the sideline. There wasn't anything complicated about his routes, but he handled them well.
Blocking
This is a deficiency for Engram in that his size makes him more like another receiver trying to block than someone who's an extension of the offensive line. His run blocking needs work, especially when lined up close to the edge.
Release
This is another place in which Engram has to be evaluated more as a receiver than a tight end, but he is able to get decent separation by having a size advantage over many defenders who crowd him.
Speed
You won't find many tight ends faster than Engram, who is able to stretch the field as well as make swift cuts without breaking stride. He also possesses good maneuverability, which allows him to extend plays after the catch.
Overall
Paired with a healthy Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss has one of the more dynamic pass-catching combos in the country. Engram still needs to become more efficient as a run-blocker if he plans to remain a tight end; otherwise, receiver will be his future.
1. Hunter Henry, Arkansas
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B/R Expert Scouting
"When it comes to receiving threats, he's one of the best in the SEC. He's faster than he probably should be at his size. He's more than just a safety valve."
—Barrett Sallee
Hands
Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema loves his tight ends, and Hunter Henry has developed into one of the most reliable pass-catching threats in the country thanks to his development in the Razorbacks' system. His hands are soft, big and make for a great target.
Route Running
Henry plays on the line and splits out wide, and he can run all of the routes. His cuts and moves are wide receiver quality, and he can fake out defenders with his footwork.
Blocking
If you can't block for the run, you won't see the field at Arkansas. Henry is an every-down player who is another lineman when in there on run plays.
Release
When split out, Henry tends to be given some space since he's strong enough to overpower most safeties and linebackers. When on the edge, he is adept at making himself disappear in the chaos and ends up wide-open quite often.
Speed
Henry is 6'5” and 253 pounds yet runs like a much smaller player, which is why Arkansas will regularly send him beyond the first level of the defense. He's not one to outrace defenders, but when they give him too much cushion, he's fast enough to hold the lead.
Overall
While Arkansas would ideally like to have more traditional receiving targets as their go-to players, Henry remains a great option who will be very difficult for most teams to slow down. He's had a very strong first two seasons and is poised to be an All-American this coming fall.
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