College Football Recruiting 2012: Power Ranking the Top 10 Tight End Prospects

The tight end position is an important piece of an offense. They can serve as a sixth offensive lineman on one play, and catch a touchdown on the very next one.

I've had a college coach tell me that if he got an elite tight end, that piece alone would make his offense put up serious points. This year we have several good tight end prospects.

Here are the top 10.

10. Darrion Hutcherson

Hutcheron has the potential to develop into a dynamic player when he gets to Auburn. He's 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds.

He's a solid athlete with great length and flashes good speed to get up the seams. His length should also serve him as a blocker since he should be able to keep defenders from getting into his body.

He's one to watch.

9. Christo Kourtzidis

Kourtzidis can be a little inconsistent with his hands, as sometimes his timing with certain catches is off. I wonder if he has concentration lapses.

However, when he's on, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end is a good one. He works each snap as a blocker, can get up on linebackers, and is athletic enough to factor in as a prime target in the passing game.

He's headed to Florida State.

8. Evan Baylis

At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Oregon is plenty stoked about Baylis. You have to initially marvel at his size and length, but then you see there's more when you watch him.

Bayliss has natural receiving ability and runs extremely well with the ball. He can be used as a flex, move and joker type of tight end and even play some wide receiver in the red zone on fade routes.

7. John Thomas

A prime player on the basketball court, the 6-foot-5, 235 pound Thomas is a solid prospect. He's very athletic, agile and mobile on the field.

Thomas flashes a quick release off the line, some avoid ability underneath in his routes and separation quickness in and out of his breaks. He'll need to increase his strike zone in college, however, to take his game to the next level.

He's headed to LSU.

6. Ron Thompson

You could make a case that Thompson could be listed as a wide receiver, as he can double as both. It's just that his 6-foot-4, 215 pound frame likely will grow into a tight end.

He creates nightmares for deep middle players as he can play the in-line tight end spot, flex out to the slot or play wide receiver. Thompson has great hands and can catch all around his body.

Indiana, Michigan and Syracuse look like the main three in the race.

5. Sean Price

I like Thompson a bit more than price right now, but chances are that I may like Price more down the line. Potential is the term associated with Price.

He's the headliner thus far of a sub-par South Florida class, however Price could be a star for the Bulls. He's 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, has excellent athletic ability and shows a willingness to be a mauler as a blocker.

4. Devin Funchess

Funchess is a bit undersized at only 205 pounds, but his 6-foot-4 frame, coupled with his length, will make him a a good target in the passing game.

Funchess displays outstanding ball skills, catch in crowd ability and concentration. He is not afraid to snag high-point balls in a crowd and leap over defenders after gaining good separation with speed and quickness.

He is committed to Michigan.

3. Colin Thompson

A big and physical prospect, Charlie Weis is going to mold Thompson in the same way he did Kyle Rudolph. Thompson is a 6-foot-5, 255-pound monster that can block and catch, two things you want in a tight end.

While he won't wow you with his speed, Thompson has a huge strike zone, leans on defenders as an in line blocker and has great strength.

2. Ricky Parks

Parks has played some quarterback for his high school squad and is also athletic enough to play some wide receiver. However, many consider his prime spot to be tight end.

He's 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and shows good speed to match up with safeties and linebackers in the passing game. Parks is a bit raw as a blocker and will need to add strength, but his athleticism and play speed should make him a nice pass-catching tight end.

He's headed to Auburn.

1. Kent Taylor

Taylor should develop into a joker tight end, as he can move and be deployed in various roles in a ton of formations. In line, slot, move, wide receiver, full back and H-back are all spots you can use Taylor at.

He's 6-foot-5, 215 pounds and has great speed. Taylor is natural pass catcher and has good hands to catch high point balls.

Florida, Penn State, Florida State and Georgia are the finalists.