2012 NFL Draft: Who's Hot, Who's Not at the TE Position

The 2012 class of NFL draft-eligible tight ends is laden with talent. The distribution of necessary skills is so uniform among the top players, though, that professional teams will put a lot emphasis on who gets hot at the right time.

On October 17, the John Mackey Award midseason watch list was released. It is "meant to draw attention to tight ends in contention for the annual award," which is presented to the best collegiate tight end.

Those named to the watch list are lucky to have earned the notoriety.

On the other hand, they are now being studied more carefully by NFL teams.

Let's review how several John Mackey candidates/future pros have fared over the past couple weeks. This is to determine whether their recent play has helped or hindered their draft stock.

Hot: Ryan Otten (San Jose State)

Junior Ryan Otten recorded only three catches in San Jose State's first three games as a result of inconsistency at the quarterback position.

When senior Matt Faulkner stepped up his game on September 24, Otten began a hot streak that he continues to ride into Week 10.

He leads all FBS tight ends with 487 receiving yards. Nearly all that production is from the past five weeks.

Otten is very effective as a receiver, but there continues to be doubt about his blocking ability.

The Spartans have one of the nation's lowest-ranked rushing attacks. They averaged fewer than one yard per rush in a 38-28 loss to Louisiana Tech.

Not: Kyler Reed (Nebraska)

Nebraska's Kyler Reed is shorter than the prototypical tight end, but he was helping his team to a terrific season...entering Week 9's matchup with Michigan State, at least.

Even in a winning effort, Reed was overmatched by his opponents.

He couldn't do much to assist dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez, who finished with a season-low 23 rushing yards.

Running back Rex Burkhead posted strong numbers, but that can't be attributed to Reed. Burkhead put the team on his back as he did not have adequate holes to run through or time to get out of the backfield.

Moreover, Reed has gone consecutive games without a catch since being named to the John Mackey Award midseason watch list. Gifted with great speed, he isn't properly utilized in Nebraska's run-first scheme.

Hot: Drake Dunsmore (Northwestern)

Without senior quarterback and Wildcat legend Dan Persa, Drake Dunsmore struggled.

Persa returned from injury in Week 5, which initiated the best month of Dunsmore's collegiate career.

In October, he caught 23 passes for 278 yards and six touchdowns.

Northwestern went 1-4 during that stretch against superior Big Ten competition, but Dunsmore salvaged the Wildcats from conference ineptitude on October 29. He scored four times in the first three quarters and racked up more than 100 yards receiving as the Wildcats beat Indiana.

It's difficult to gauge Dunsmore's blocking skills because Northwestern runs a lot of unorthodox rushing plays. He does well in their unique system, though.

His size is comparable to the Cornhuskers' Kyler Reed.

Not: Jake Stoneburner (Ohio State)

Jake Stoneburner hasn't had the offensive success you would expect from such a large individual.

His season total of six touchdowns is skewed by the four he totaled in games against Akron and Toledo. Two-thirds of his receptions in 2011 were from those same matchups.

In the past six games, he has gained 47 yards.

Stoneburner is limited in Ohio State's offense, which is one of the most unbalanced in all of college football.

Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller doesn't have confidence in his own arm, although he often targets Stoneburner in the redzone.

It's hard to imagine an NFL team taking a chance on Stoneburner with so little with which to evaluate him.

On the bright side, he could simply stick around another year and hope his supporting cast improves.

Hot: Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame)

Tyler Eifert has been reliable all season for the Fighting Irish.

The No. 2 option for quarterback Tommy Rees behind junior wideout Michael Floyd, he has produced just as much in wins as in defeats.

Eifert's Week 9 performance against Navy may seem like his most disappointing of 2011 given that he had only one reception. In reality, he did an amazing job.

Eifert repelled the Midshipmen's defensive line at will during running plays. It showed—Notre Dame finished the day with seven rushing touchdowns.

In all other games this season, Eifert has caught multiple passes and thrown solid blocks.

NFL teams shouldn't hold their breath, though.

Notre Dame's program is rising fast with a plethora of promising underclassmen, Eifert included. I wouldn't be surprised if he stays with the Fighting Irish to make a run at a BCS bowl game appearance in 2012.

Not: Tim Biere (Kansas)

Senior Tim Biere is attending the wrong school at the wrong time.

The Kansas Jayhawks (2-6, 0-5 in Big 12) are far worse then their record would suggest (if that's possible). They aren't only losing games but getting annihilated.

Kansas has the worst defense in the nation, and Biere is suffering because of it.

With the exception of the first half of Week 5's loss to Texas Tech, the Jayhawks were playing catch-up in every second of every October game. That forced them to do desperate things on offense, hardly any of which involved Biere.

When his number finally got called, it was usually long after the victory had been clinched for the opponent.

Biere's season can't be taken seriously under these circumstances.

Hot: Coby Fleener (Stanford)

Coby Fleener is already doing what most professional football players are dying to do: play with Andrew Luck.

The most-hyped quarterback prospect in years spreads the ball around, but Fleener is a favorite of his and leads the Cardinal with seven touchdown receptions.

His receiving numbers were very modest in Stanford's last couple games (two catches, 22 yards, one touchdown), although I'm sure anyone who has seen Stanford play this year realizes why.

The Cardinal have played their "Tree Amigos"—tight ends Zach Ertz, Levine Toilolo amd Fleener—simultaneously to frustrate defenses.

Fleener is hot on this list of talented tight ends because he will be receiving more targets since Ertz suffered a knee injury.

He is tall, physical and athletic, effective in all situations.

Expect Fleener to separate himself from the herd with a productive November.

Not: Mychal Rivera (Tennessee)

Mychal Rivera really has no choice but to stay at Tennessee.

The junior was hot at the start of his 2011 campaign. He accumulated 248 receiving yards in four games before it happened.

"It" was a hand injury to sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray as he followed through on a pass attempt in the fourth quarter of a loss to Georgia.

Bray's replacement is Matt Simms, but nothing ends well with the ball in his hands.

The Volunteers have scored 16 points in Simms' three starts!

Rivera was a non-factor against LSU, Alabama and South Carolina, which to be fair are three outstanding defenses.

Hot: Dwayne Allen (Clemson)

Clemson's Dwayne Allen may be the best collegiate tight end of all.

His Tigers lost their undefeated season and likely their national title chances in Week 9, but Allen propelled the offense as always. He has caught at least four passes in six straight games.

Allen has all the physical gifts, and he's in the perfect system to showcase them.

Sophomore Tajh Boyd can make all the necessary throws.

Also, after Boyd exploited wide receiver Sammy Watkins last Saturday for 10 receptions and 159 yards, Clemson's opponents may opt to implement double coverage, giving Allen more opportunities.

He could be drafted in the first round with a strong finish to his junior season.

Not: Michael Egnew (Missouri)

Simply put, Michael Egnew stuck around one year too long.

The monstrous tight end thrived in 2010 with Blaine Gabbert under center. Egnew caught 90 passes, more than any other player at the position.

Gabbert was drafted in the spring, and new Mizzou quarterback James Franklin doesn't have the same interest in Egnew.

Franklin is less committed to passing (542 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns).

When he chooses to throw, he only looks beyond the secondary. Egnew's yards per reception average is significantly better than last season's as a result, but his role has clearly been reduced.

Given his large frame and reliable hands, NFL teams won't overlook Michael Egnew.

However, he won't stand out, either.

Football is all about "what have you done for me lately." Egnew's lack of production and his team's mediocrity will prevent him from garnering well-deserved praise.