TE over DE: 4-Star ATH Devin Asiasi Looking to Play Offense in College

With a little more than nine minutes remaining in last Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl, 4-star athlete Devin Asiasi caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stanford Cardinals quarterback commit K.J. Costello to extend the West's lead over the East. The touchdown capped a 37-9 West win.

The touchdown helped support the "pro" argument of Asiasi playing tight end at the next level. The "con" argument involves putting the 6'3", 270-pound athlete on the defensive line as a defensive end.

For Asiasi, convincing everyone that he can play tight end has been a little tougher than originally expected. Asiasi wants to play tight end in college, even though many are still saying that he'd make more of an impact on the other side of the ball.

"In general, people think I'm going to be a D-end. I want to play tight end. That's where my heart's at," said Asiasi, who played both positions for De La Salle High School in Concord, California. "I'm going to come out every day and prove myself that I can be a tight end at the next level. That's where my mentality is every day."

Asiasi said he's considering schools that will allow him to live out his college dreams of becoming a reliable offensive option. On the weekend of Jan. 15, he will make the first of three official visits this month, as he takes in Washington. Asiasi, who has 22 reported offers, will visit the Michigan Wolverines the weekend of Jan. 22, and he'll visit the USC Trojans the weekend of Jan. 29.

A fourth school to keep an eye on is UCLA. Asiasi took an official visit to UCLA last month, and with Asiasi's recruiting contact from USC, Marques Tuiasosopo, leaving the Trojans to become the quarterbacks coach at UCLA, the Bruins are a team to watch for national signing day. Prior to Tuisasosopo's departure, USC was considered a favorite to land Asiasi.

The new national champion Alabama Crimson Tide round out Asiasi's top five. All five schools are solid options. And, perhaps more importantly, all of the schools are allowing Asiasi to play on the offensive side of the ball.

"I come out every day working hard to get blocking techniques down and schemes down," he said. "I'm going to prove I can do it every day."

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Top 5 #Blessed  pic.twitter.com/7iUP6Og5re

— Devin Asiasi ⛅️ (@asibo_) January 12, 2016"

De La Salle won the CIF Open Division state championship last month, and Asiasi, used more as a blocking tight end, caught 17 passes for 311 yards and five touchdowns this season, per MaxPreps.com. Defensively, Asiasi finished with 49 tackles, five pass deflections and four sacks as a defensive end.

Because of his versatility, Asiasi is listed as a jumbo athlete and is ranked No. 4 in the 2016 class among all athletes. He is ranked No. 51 overall in the class.

Statistically, it's easy to see why many feel his ticket to early playing time in college would come as a defender. To Asiasi, however, playing tight end fulfills a dream he said he's had since he was a young boy.

For now, it's all about finding the right place to fulfill that dream.

"I'm just looking for a good position coach, someone who can get me ready for the next level," Asiasi said. "I want to be around good people and be at a place where I can graduate in three-and-a-half years. Life after football is important to me."

"The winning school will get everything I can provide. Whatever the coaches want me to do, that's what I'll be there for. Hopefully, I can elevate my game to the next level."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports.com's composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles