Tight Ends And H-Backs Upping The Ante

Ian Guerin April 16, 2021 @ 09:30 AM

Some schools have gone so spread-heavy that they forget about the tight end position. Others have found creative ways to keep them involved and create a schematic problem for opposing defensive coordinators. A small handful have the types of athletes to push it to the next level. These five tight ends either catch passes like receivers, block like tackles or both. [player_tooltip player_id="59460" first="Jaleel" last="Skinner"], Greer Skinner is very much at the top of the class for the position in South Carolina. That Alabama offer should let us know that. And what he brings to the table as a Gronk-style tight end is pretty spectacular to watch. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound rising senior makes a mockery of most of the players tasked with guarding him off the line.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> [player_tooltip player_id="89324" first="Carson" last="Arnold"], Oceanside Collegiate The 6-foot-4, 225 pounder is better known for his crazy tackling prowess, and we’ve mentioned before how much head coach Joe Call loves his skills there. But when he’s on offense, he serves as a perfect compliment to the rest of the line for a run game that tends to go power more often than its point totals would suggest. [player_tooltip player_id="89347" first="Nic" last="Brown"], C.E. Murray When it comes to diversity at the position, that’s just sort of what Brown does all the way around. He dabbles in receiver (much like he transitions to linebacker instead of defensive end on the other side of the ball). He definitely never stops cranking away. Brown was second on the team in receiver yards as a sophomore.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> [player_tooltip player_id="91171" first="Joshua" last="Sapp"], Greenville (pictured) Greenville has found some fun ways to use its 6-foot-4, 225-pound H-back. From running routes out of the backfield to running him out of the back field to have him actually throw passes (he did it eight times last fall), Sapp is no stranger to doing things differently. In the end, he still caught 213 yards worth of passes in six games. [player_tooltip player_id="92204" first="Jack" last="Greenway"], North Augusta Greenway is the wildcard of the bunch, if for no other reason that he lines up at tackle as much as he’s outside that spot. Make no mistake, though: The second North Augusta turns him into a full-time tight end is the moment the Yellow Jackets’ offense takes on a different look. He’s a ferocious blocker and he can catch passes and steamroll defenders thanks to his 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame.