Spring football has begun and will be in full swing across the country soon. This leads to a look at the top 10 players returning at each position, continuing today with the tight ends.
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MORE: Top 10 QBs in college football entering the 2022 season | RBs | WRs
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
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RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info for 2022 series
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1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
Bowers had the best season a freshman tight end has ever had in college football history last year. The top receiving option for the national champions, he racked up 882 yards and a staggering 13 touchdowns.
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2. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Before he got injured, Mayer was arguably the best tight end in the country. He still finished with 71 catches for 840 yards and seven scores, and is a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.
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3. Jaheim Bell, South Carolina
Bell was one of the most underrated tight ends in the nation last year, as he was the most reliable receiving option for an up-and-down Gamecocks team. He teams up with the No. 5 player on this list to form the best tandem in the country.
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4. Erick All, Michigan
The big man from Michigan proved his versatility as a pass-catcher and run-blocker last year for a Wolverines team that had one of their best offenses in awhile. He'll be the go-to target this year for a team that is hoping to build off of last season's run to the College Football Playoff.
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5. Austin Stogner, South Carolina
Stogner transferred from Oklahoma with Spencer Rattler to join their old offensive coach Shane Beamer at South Carolina, and he'll team up with Jaheim Bell to form the best duo in the country at that position. While his production dipped in 2021, he's proven that he's one of Rattler's favorite targets.
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6. Dalton Kincaid, Utah
One of the most consistent players for Utah last season, Kincaid had 510 yards and eight scores for the Pac-12 champions. Along with Idaho transfer Logan Kendall, the Utes will be explosive and versatile at the tight end position in 2022.
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7. Marshon Ford, Louisville
Ford has gotten better every year on campus and is Malik Cunningham's safety net in the passing game, yet still capable of making big plays. In three seasons, he's hauled in 94 passes for 1,151 yards and 15 touchdowns.
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8. Sam LaPorta, Iowa
The next guy in a long line of great Hawkeyes tight ends, LaPorta is a devastating blocker with soft hands. He led Iowa with 670 yards receiving last season and is the focal point of the Hawkeyes' passing attack.
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9. Jahleel Billingsley, Texas
The Alabama transfer will look to pair with transfer QB Quinn Ewers to form a quality duo in Austin for second-year coach Steve Sarkisian. While primarily a blocker at Alabama, Billingsley showed down the stretch in 2021 that he's a reliable target.
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10. Will Mallory, Miami
The U has as strong a tight end tradition as anyone in the country, and Mallory will look to cap off his career with a bang. He's gotten better every season, and already has over 1,000 yards to his name.
