Category rankings: Tight ends
The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.
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We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the tight ends.
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FASTEST
5. RICHARD WILSON, Spanish Fork (Utah) High
PARTICULARS: 6-3/224
THE BUZZ: Projects as a tight end, but runs his routes like a receiver.
Pressley highlightsClick 4. MORRELL PRESLEY, Carson (Calif.) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-4/215
THE BUZZ: Did a nice job getting deep at the Los Angeles Nike Camp.
Matthews highlightsClick 3. BARRETT MATTHEWS, Houston North Shore Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Texas
PARTICULARS: 6-2/220
THE BUZZ: Spends a lot of time lined up as a receiver, and he can make short passes turn into long gains.
Sims highlightsClick 2. DION SIMS, Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-5/230
THE BUZZ: Two-sport star brings his basketball athleticism to the gridiron.
Charles highlightsClick 1. ORSON CHARLES, Tampa Plant Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-2/216
THE BUZZ: Displayed good speed as he worked out with the receivers at the Gainesville Nike Camp.
OTHERS: Malcolm Bush, Hackensack (N.J.) High (Rutgers commitment); Kenneth Cooper, Merced (Calif.) High; Tyler Eifert, Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Dwenger; Trey Graham, Waco (Texas) Midway (Texas commitment); Jordan Najvar, Klein (Texas) Oak.
BEST HANDS
5. ZACH ERTZ, Danville (Calif.) Monte Vista
COMMITMENT: Stanford
PARTICULARS: 6-6/230
THE BUZZ: Only played in five games last season but still hauled in 38 passes.
Pressley highlightsClick 4. MORRELL PRESLEY, Carson (Calif.) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-4/215
THE BUZZ: Won the receiver MVP award at the Los Angeles Nike Camp because of his route-running and consistency catching the ball.
3. RICHARD WILSON, Spanish Fork (Utah) High
PARTICULARS: 6-3/224
THE BUZZ: Caught 46 passes for 700 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Toilolo highlightsClick 2. LEVINE TOILOLO, La Mesa (Calif.) Helix Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Stanford
PARTICULARS: 6-8/239
THE BUZZ: Looked like a rebounding machine at the Los Angeles Nike Camp, pulling in every pass.
Lutzenkirchen highlightsClick 1. PHILIP LUTZENKIRCHEN, Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Auburn
PARTICULARS: 6-4/245
THE BUZZ: Caught everything thrown his way at the Tuscaloosa Nike Camp.
OTHERS: Reid Fragel, Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South (Ohio State commitment); Orson Charles, Tampa Plant; Tanner Poppe, Girard (Kan.) High; Hutson Prioleau, Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints Episcopal (Texas A&M commitment); Austin Tate, Harrison (Ark.) High (Arkansas commitment).
BEST ATHLETE
Charles highlightsClick 5. ORSON CHARLES, Tampa Plant Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-2/216
THE BUZZ: Probably the most physically impressive tight end on the hoof; also could be a star at weakside defensive end.
Hageman highlightsClick 4. RA'SHEDE HAGEMAN, Minneapolis Washburn Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-6/251
THE BUZZ: Not only a star on the gridiron but also on the hardwood.
Fontaine highlightsClick 3. ARTHUR FONTAINE, Dartmouth (Mass.) High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-5/240
THE BUZZ: Two-way starter also recorded 63 tackles on defense.
Sims highlightsClick 2. DION SIMS, Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-5/230
THE BUZZ: Two-sport star also is considered a Division I basketball recruit.
Richardson highlightsClick 1. SHELDON RICHARDSON, St. Louis Gateway Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Missouri
PARTICULARS: 6-4/281
THE BUZZ: Richardson ran back-to-back 4.7's at Missouri camp, and could project as a strongside defensive end or even a defensive tackle.
OTHERS: Kenneth Cooper, Merced (Calif.) High; Jacob Green, Wyoming (Ohio) High; Barrett Matthews, Houston North Shore (Texas commitment); Jordan Najvar, Klein (Texas) Oak; Morrell Presley, Carson (Calif.) High (USC commitment).
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