The 4A Club Post-Regular Season Player Rankings: Tight Ends

Every four weeks I like to take a look at the landscape of Class 4A football and come up with my own player rankings based on statistics. How I come up with my ratings is a system based on pro-football-reference.com’s "Approximate Value" system of ratings they use for overall performance during a season. For this article, I’m taking a look at my top 10 Class 4A Tight Ends.   *Stats are up to Week 8*   #1. [player_tooltip player_id="23822" first="Carson" last="Williams"], Marshalltown, SR - 17.631 6’5, 225 lbs Receiving: 32 rec, 353 yards, 2 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 191.143 YPG Committed - Buffalo (6/10/20) A quick word: The future Buffalo Bull rated among the best receivers in the state, let alone best tight ends.   #2. [player_tooltip player_id="23850" first="Andrew" last="Lentsch"], Dowling, SR - 11.437 6’5, 235 lbs Receiving: 12 rec, 195 yards, 1 TD Team Rushing YPG: 140.167 YPG Highest Offers: FCS (Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Southeast Missouri State) A quick word: Lentsch plays a key role in both the receiving and blocking games for the Maroons offense.   #3. Kellen Hornbuckle, Pleasant Valley, SR - 9.342 6’4, 230 lbs Receiving: 11 rec, 170 yards, 3 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 302 Highest Offers: FCS (Western Illinois (PWO)) A quick word: Not only is he the Spartans leading receiver, he’s also vital as a blocker in PV’s triple option offense.   #4. [player_tooltip player_id="23946" first="Eli" last="Raridon"], Valley, JR - 8.165 6’6, 220 lbs Receiving: 18 rec, 159 yards, 2 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 75.5 Highest Offers: Power-5 (Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan State, Missouri, Purdue) A quick word: The third-generation Raridon certainly got passed down the blocking gene, but he’s also proven to be a pretty decent receiver too.   #5. [player_tooltip player_id="23927" first="Trae" last="Swartz"], Ottumwa, SR - 8.036 6’4, 225 lbs Receiving: 24 rec, 337 yards, 3 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 149.429 Highest Offers: D-2 (Minnesota State, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri State, Upper Iowa, Wayne State (NE)) A quick word: Although the Bulldogs just ended their season with an 0-7 record, that shouldn’t take away what Swartz was able to accomplish statistically for Ottumwa.   #6. Carson Tart, Dubuque Senior, SR - 7.453 6’4, 220 lbs Receiving: 8 rec, 140 yards, 2 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 181.286 Highest Offers: FCS (Davidson, San Diego, Valparaiso)   #7. [player_tooltip player_id="23809" first="Max" last="Llewellyn"], Urbandale, SR - 7.205 6’5, 235 lbs Receiving: 13 rec, 278 yards, 2 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 238.333 Committed: Iowa (4/22/20)   #8. [player_tooltip player_id="23908" first="Eddie" last="Saidat"] Jr., Waukee, SR - 6.836 6’2, 230 lbs Receiving: 19 rec, 271 yards, 2 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 203.714 Committed: Sioux Falls (10/3/20)   #9. [player_tooltip player_id="23918" first="Caleb" last="Daniels"], Southeast Polk, SR - 5.073 6’4, 237 lbs Receiving: 11 rec, 107 yards, 4 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 232 Committed: Minnesota State (9/22/20)   #10. Kolby Kucera, Iowa City High, SR - 3.958 6’4, 197 lbs Receiving: 15 rec, 181 yards, 0 TDs Team Rushing YPG: 224 Highest Offers: N/A