2022 Rankings: Tight end group builds on 2021 momentum

Louisiana doesn’t produce many highly ranked or highly recruited tight ends annually. Then, in modern football, not many states do. But, after a couple of particularly slim classes, Stanford signee [player_tooltip player_id="63562" first="Shield" last="Taylor"], ULM signee [player_tooltip player_id="63612" first="Rylan" last="Green"] and Southeastern Louisiana signee [player_tooltip player_id="63621" first="Dalton" last="Allen"] led a decent 2021 group. And at least one clear standout is carrying the Division-I torch in 2022, with a few others hoping to join that conversation by year’s end and a couple already on the radar for 2023. <strong>No. 46 — [player_tooltip player_id="129057" first="Danny" last="Lewis"] Jr. — 6-5, 225 TE — Westgate</strong> Lewis is the rare combination of size, speed and skills that Power Five programs nationwide can’t overlook even at a position that has been so diminished by increasingly spread offenses. He already boasts legitimate, top-end Division-I size an ability to move that big body around with a 4.64-second 40-yard dash and 4.44-second shuttle — all with smooth, natural pass-catching ability. Colorado, Utah, Arizona State, Virginia, Purdue, Houston, Memphis, Cincinnati, Liberty, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette), Southern, Grambling State, McNeese State, Southern Miss, Marshall, Texas State, New Mexico, South Alabama, Colorado State and East Carolina have all been among the programs to extend offers during the past nine months. <strong>No. 86 — [player_tooltip player_id="129058" first="Owen" last="Harmon"] — 6-3, 210 TE — Iota</strong> Another all-state performer just an hour northwest — at a less heavily recruited school — checks a similar number of boxes despite not having enjoyed the same explosion on the trail. Harmon isn’t quite as big as Lewis, but still possesses Division I size and actually boasts slightly better speed with a reported 4.5-second 40-yard dash and good ball skills and overall athleticism at his size. McNeese State became the first to extend a scholarship off this spring, but more should follow as other coaches see him or his film this summer. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="129119" first="Kaleb" last="Vizier"] — 6-5, 210 TE — Sulphur</strong> Vizier’s junior season was put into question by not only COVID-19, but then the hurricanes to strike the southwest corner of the state just as the LHSAA returned to activity. But, in Sulphur’s handful of games, he did put some Division I potential on film with a good tall frame, good ball skills and decent speed — not as straight-line fast as Lewis and Harmon, but still enough to split out and work the seams downfield — all while being one of the best blockers on this list. Vizier actually follows the heels of one of the state’s other recent Division-I tight ends in former Sulphur standout Christian Trahan, who signed with Houston in 2018. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="129078" first="Tyronne" last="Hayes III"] — 6-3, 195 TE — Rummel</strong> Hayes is a thinner athlete currently more in the mold of a WR/TE hybrid with a reported 4.5-second 40-yard dash that the Raiders have been able to move all over the formation. But he has worked well tight in traditional tight end or H-back positioning and proven himself a willing and capable blocker, and he has a frame ready to tack on 15-20 pounds. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="129077" first="Miles" last="Williams"] — 6-3, 225 TE — Calvary Baptist</strong> The thicker Williams played all over the field as a tight end, running back and defensive end for the state champion Cavaliers. Watching his development his final high school year should be intriguing with an offseason of 7-on-7 tournaments and camp work as a pass-catcher and a considerable number of targets from Louisiana Tech quarterback commitment [player_tooltip player_id="127701" first="Landry" last="Lyddy"] up for grabs with the graduations of speedy receivers [player_tooltip player_id="63668" first="Joseph" last="Wilson"] and Jordan Wallace. Williams could be a reliable, tough safety blanket in the middle of the field as Lyddy and the coaches continue to break in a new corps on the outside. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136538" first="Prince" last="Edwards"] — 6-1, 220 TE — Catholic (Baton Rouge)</strong> Edwards lined up primarily in tight end or H-back positions this past season to help protect quarterbacks Landon O’Connor and [player_tooltip player_id="139258" first="Daniel" last="Beale"] and spring running lanes for George Hart III, [player_tooltip player_id="127864" first="Corey" last="Singleton"], [player_tooltip player_id="136661" first="Taelon" last="Nicholas"] and other ball-carriers. He provided a physicality and even nastiness to a Division I state championship run that often went overlooked at times — but only from the outside. His coaches and teammates constantly praised the effectiveness with which he played his role. And just when opposing defenses might become inclined to overlook him as a playmaking threat himself, Edwards would slip free to an opening beyond the rush, haul in a quick pass and pick up a nice chunk of yards and potentially a first down. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Landon O’Connor. [player_tooltip player_id="136538" first="Prince" last="Edwards"]. Touchdown.</p> Catholic ahead for the first time, 14-13, on the [player_tooltip player_id="137116" first="Kylan" last="Dupre"] XP with 24 seconds left in the opening quarter. <a href="https://t.co/sw77ImJgQU">pic.twitter.com/sw77ImJgQU</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1317264392715632640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>