Larry Donnell Emerging as NFL's Next Unknown Star at Tight End

New York Giants tight end Larry Donnell caught just three passes for 31 yards as a rookie in 2013.

Though he appeared in all 16 games that season, he flew under the radar and extremely quiet on the production front. Most fans outside of the Giants fanbase (and even many New York fans) had probably never heard of the Grambling State product heading into 2014.

As an undrafted free agent, Donnell had to battle to even make the roster as a rookie. During this past offseason, he had to fight off more experienced guys like Kellen Davis and Daniel Fells to earn the a significant role.

“They’ve all worked hard, and they do make plays,” head coach Tom Coughlin said during the offseason, via John DeMarzo of the New York Post. “Today, we had a couple of nice plays made. Not one [has stood out above the others], but I think there’s been some progress there.”

Donnell didn't stand out enough to earn the starting job in Week 1. That honor went to Fells. However, Donnell managed to impress with five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown in that game.

He has stepped into the starting role and has continued to impress ever since.

Donnell has become a veritable star in new offensive coordinator Been McAdoo's system and leaped into the spotlight during the first three weeks of the 2014 regular season. Through Week 3, he had produced 182 yards and a touchdown on a team-leading 18 receptions.

This production was good enough to catch the eye of Giants fans and fantasy football enthusiasts. Yet it took a monster three-touchdown performance on Thursday night for Donnell to introduce himself to the football world at large.

Against the division rival Washington Redskins on Thursday night, Donnell racked up 54 yards and three scores on seven receptions. This gives him 25 receptions, 236 yards and four touchdowns through four weeks and puts him on pace for 100 receptions, 944 yards and 16 touchdowns.

This also makes Donnell the latest relative unknown to break out at the tight end position.

The tight end position has risen to prominence in modern NFL offense due to a team's ability to create mismatches with the big, physical pass-catchers.

A number of low-profile players have become stars at the position over the past few years. Julius Thomas (788 yards, 12 touchdown) and Jordan Cameron (917 yards, seven touchdowns) did it just last season for the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns respectively.

Guys like Thomas, Cameron and the New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham have gone from obscurity to stardom due to a few key attributes. They combine size and athleticism with quickness and soft hands to create a pass-catching target that is extremely difficult to defend.

The ability to jump up and snag the football at its highest point certainly doesn't hurt. 

Donnell has these traits as well, as he showed the world on Thursday night. The 6'6", 265-pound playmaker has the quickness to cut in front of or behind defenders on the run. He has the size and strength to out-muscle them in contested-catch situations. He also has the hands to come down with the football after he puts himself in position to make the catch.

That leaping ability? Yeah, he has that too.

Player/Year	Previous Season	Breakout Season	Pro Bowl?
Jimmy Graham-2011	356 yards, 5 TDs	1,310 yards, 11 TDs	Yes
Julius Thomas-2013	4 games, no statistics	788 yards, 12 TDs	Yes
Jordan Cameron-2013	226 yards, 1 TD	917 yards, 7 TDs	Yes
Larry Donnell-2014	31 yards, 0 TDs	236 yards, 4 TDs through Week 4	???

On Thursday, these attributes combined to give Donnell three scores on the road against a bitter division rival. 

More importantly, they helped the Giants win their second game of the season and get back into contention in the unpredictable NFC East.

If New York is going to continue to contend, it will have to keep leaning on Donnell. The young tight end has shown he has what it takes to be a primary target in the Giants offense, and by season's end he will likely have proved he has what it takes to be a star.