The 4A Watchlist: Tight Ends

The 4A Watchlist is where I list out my top 75 football players coming into this season in Class 4A. This year, I have 8 players who primarily played TE last season that are worth noting heading into the 2020 season.   [player_tooltip player_id="23945" first="Gabe" last="Burkle"], Prairie, JR Burkle was among the many 4A tight ends that saw a huge jump in recruiting over the spring. As a sophomore, Burkle caught 6 passes for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns, not bad for someone who plays in a run-heavy offense. At 6’7, 230 lbs, Burkle’s gonna tower over just about every player he faces and uses his size to his advantage in not just the receiving game, but blocking as well. Prairie used him sparingly last season, only lining him off of the line as a wide receiver or split end in their single wing. But with offers over the spring and summer coming from Michigan State, Iowa State, and Buffalo, you can imagine they’re gonna use him more regularly this year.   [player_tooltip player_id="23850" first="Andrew" last="Lentsch"], Dowling, SR Lentsch’s blocking was an underrated part of Dowling’s run game being so successful last season. On the receiving side, he only caught 5 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. But like I just stated, the 6’5, 225 lb [player_tooltip player_id="23850" first="Andrew" last="Lentsch"] is most effective as an extra blocker in the run game who can take an outside linebacker or DB out of the play. It’s a bit difficult to pinpoint which level of college ball he’s gonna play in next year. He’s got offers ranging from FCS schools like UNI and Southeast Missouri State to D-2 schools Concordia and Minnesota State to NAIA’s Grand View, and to JuCo’s Iowa Western and ASA-Miami, the only JuCo football program in the Sunshine State.   [player_tooltip player_id="23819" first="Tyler" last="Moore"], Johnston, SR Moore broke on to the varsity squad last season, put up some solid stats, and quickly became one of the most touted prospects in the state once the season ended. In 2019, he caught 20 passes for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns. Moore primarily lined up as a wide receiver as a junior in a similar way to how Johnston lined up future Iowa baseball player Peyton Williams a couple of years back. At 6’5 240, Moore already has the size for the power 5 level, which makes him a huge mismatch for opposing corners and safeties. On April 24th, Moore committed to play football at Iowa State, proving that even though he didn’t put up that big of stats last season, he has a ton of upside and should be a big difference-maker for Johnston in 2020.   [player_tooltip player_id="23951" first="Corey" last="Phillips"], Ames, JR Corey first saw regular playing time as a sophomore last season and showed off what potential he has heading into the future. In 2019, he caught 31 passes for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns. Last season, the 6’4 230 lb Phillips primarily lined up as a slot receiver to use his size as an advantage against extra cover guys. But with a new head coach comes the likelihood of a new offense, which means Phillips could be lining up as a tight end for the most part. He’s only gotten one offer from UCF of all schools, so expect a bunch of power 5 schools to follow suit over the next couple years.   Eli Raridon, Valley, JR When it comes to producing some high-quality linemen for the college level, the Raridon family has to be one of the best in Iowa, and Eli is the first of a third-generation Raridon to likely make it to the high-tier college level. Grandfather Scott Sr. played on Barry Alvarez’s Mason City teams in the late ’70s before starting on Nebraska’s 1983 team that finished the season #2 in the nation, and Eli’s father Scott Jr. played for the Mohawks in the early 2000s as a tight end before switching to o-line and long snapping duties at Notre Dame for a couple of years. Then a decade later, uncles Sam and John dominated the trenches for Valley in the early-to-mid 2010s, earning 5 all-state nominations between them and Wisconsin and Nebraska scholarships respectively. Last season, Eli was used sparingly offensively, usually in run blocking situations as he only made 3 catches for 45 yards in 2019. At 6’6, 215 lbs, he’s a really good run blocker, but he’s also slim enough to potentially be alright in the passing game too. Currently, he’s seen some buzz surrounding him with offers from Iowa State and Buffalo coming in over the summer.   [player_tooltip player_id="23908" first="Eddie" last="Saidat"], Waukee, SR The son of a former Hawkeyes d-lineman from the late ’90s, [player_tooltip player_id="23908" first="Eddie" last="Saidat"] Jr. saw a substantial increase in production as a junior. He caught 34 passes for 365 yards and 2 touchdowns back in 2019, becoming Waukee’s second-leading receiver in the process. He’s a solid receiving tight end with good speed and hands, but he’s also pretty solid while blocking the run. He currently has three offers from D-2 Bemidji State and NAIA’s Graceland and Grand View.   Carson Tart, Dubuque Senior, SR Tart is looking to be dominant on both sides of the ball in 2020. Offensively, he made just 5 catches for 101 yards, meanwhile, on defense, he made 12 tackles with 2 tackles for loss including 1 sack. He was given the ball sparingly, only on short passes, but the 6’4 220 pounder’s run blocking game is pretty solid too. Currently, his highest offer is coming from San Diego of the Pioneer Football League, but he has six more D-2 offers coming from NSIC schools as he heads into a likely more productive senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id="23822" first="Carson" last="Williams"], Marshalltown, SR Williams broke out on both sides of the ball as a junior in 2019. He made 28 catches for 329 yards and 6 touchdowns as a tight end, and a team-high 42 tackles, 3 TfL, and 2 interceptions as their middle linebacker too. Listed at 6’5 225 lbs, Williams usually splits off as a slot receiver in passing plays where he utilizes his hands and size to make some big plays after the catch. On June 10th, Williams announced he committed to the University of Buffalo over schools such as Eastern Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, and South Dakota State.   Other notable names Oliver Bakeris, Bettendorf, SR [player_tooltip player_id="23918" first="Caleb" last="Daniels"], Southeast Polk, SR Weston Fulk, Ankeny, SR [player_tooltip player_id="23927" first="Trae" last="Swartz"], Ottumwa, SR