Rhett Ellison: 5 Biggest Strengths and Weaknesses of 2012 NFL Draft Prospect

The tight end became the key position in the NFL offense last season, thanks in part to the play of Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Jimmy Graham.

And with the continuation of offensive wizardry, the faster, stronger and more athletic tight end will continue to blossom as a major weapon.

Southern California's Rhett Ellison is hoping he can be used in that same capacity.

The nearly 6'5" and 251-pound blocker/receiver will have to make a name for himself in the upcoming draft. As a weapon in the Trojans offense, he is projected as a fifth-round selection.

Here is what the experts are saying about him through CBSSportsline.com and sidelinescouting.com.

A Solid Football Player

He has a good frame, and has the body to add another 10-15 pounds without losing any of his elite athleticism...

Ellison shows good tight-quarter quickness and can shake defenders with a few steps.

Takes on Every Defender

He shows no fear when going across the middle and is willing to take big hits if it means catching the football and moving the chains.

He gets straight into defenders when run-blocking without taking extra steps or wasting motion.

Knows His Role

Ellison is a good blocker and understands how to block and uses angles to hold his blocks and not let defenders make plays.

He will give the team that drafts him solid effort at all times and will put in the work to get better each day.

He also shows the ability to play on special teams and could make an immediate impact there.

Needs to Be a Better Blocker

He doesn't have pop when blocking and tends to get overpowered due to a lack of strength. That can be fixed with weight training and proper coaching.

Ellison can lose his balance when blocking because of the tendency to overextend his arms.

Has Good Blood Lines, but Is Not an Elite Athlete

His father was a former NFL player.

Ellison will have his share of drops with inconsistent focus and too often tried running with the ball before the catch. He needs to play with more discipline and be in control of the moment.

Ellison wasn't used to a large degree most of his career and was just a small part of an explosive offense