Florida lineman projects as major TE
Junior to Watch: Craig Gelhardt
School: Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln High School
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Position: Tight End
Size and speed: Gelhardt is 6-foot-4, weighs 230 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds.
Statistics: As a junior, he graded out at 81 percent for his blocking assignments while registering 24 knockdowns and 18 pancake blocks.
Favorite Schools: Florida State, Florida, Miami, Central Florida, South Florida.
Skinny: Like many players his size, Craig Gelhardt didn’t receive the attention he probably deserved as a prospect at his future position.
“He’s going to wind up being a very good tight end at the college level,” said Lincoln coach David Wilson, “but he played tackle for us last year out of necessity. We needed him there for the betterment of the team, and he’s a team player. He did a great job for us there.
“Craig is a big, strong kid who’s still growing. He’s got really nice blocking skills from playing at tackle. He plays physical. But he also moves really well (4.7 forty) and has nice hands. He’s got everything you look for in a tight end.”
Gelhardt has received early interest from “most of the Florida schools,” according to the Lincoln coach. He was invited to visit several Florida State games as a junior.
He plans to attend the Nike combine at Gainesville this spring. His summer plans have yet to be decided.