High Talent Level, Low Recognition: TEs

Wisconsin’s TE Class of 2022 is one of the more talented position groups in the state. There are already four members of the group committed to play at FBS schools after graduation and multiple others with scholarship offers from the FCS level. However, when you dig into the depth of the class you will find student athletes that have slipped under the radar that have the potential to be high impact D2-D3 prospects. There’s even a couple in this group that could have a future as very talented OL prospects. Those under the radar athletes are the ones I want to spotlight today in part four of our series going position by position highlighting the sleepers of each position group in the Class of 2022. We have seven prospects to cover, today. Let’s do it! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31228" first="Angel" last="Toombs"], 6’5" 230- Rufus King</strong> <em>Season Stats: Season Cancelled Due to Covid</em> In my eyes, Angel is the prospect that is going to see the largest swing in recruiting attention when the season kickoffs. He wasn’t able to have a junior season due to Covid, so you know he is chomping at the bit to see some live action. When he does hit the gridiron the massive 6’5" 230 lbs TE/WR is going to put on a show. He has so many of the traits you look for, and already showed off the start of those traits in his sophomore film. The body control to dominate at the catch point, and the impact as a blocker inline and out in space, and the play speed to be able to stretch the field. Add on the fact that he is an exceptional student with a 4.3 GPA and you get a prospect that is going to skyrocket this fall. To date, it looks like Angel doesn’t have any offers. That’s borderline impossible to believe, but give him a couple of games this fall and the attention is going to take off. He is a special athlete and one of the best available TEs in Wisconsin. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11286728/5ddb3ef1b023750d90bacdf7">Angel’s Sophomore Season</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118350" first="Nolan" last="Hawk"], 6’4" 215- DeForest</strong> <em>Season Stats: 15 Receptions, 190 Yards, 4 TDs</em> Nolan is a powerful TE prospect that is still filling out his frame making for a prospect with a lot of potential as blocker and receiver. In DeForest’s offense, Hawk lines up primarily inline. This allows him to see a lot of matchups against LBs in coverage. A matchup that heavily favors Nolan thanks to his superior strength and athletic combo. It’s that combo that makes him an intriguing prospect. He has the play speed to attack the seam, and pick up yards after the catch, but where he really shines is with his strength. Nolan has proven able to easily run through arm tackles, he hands the hand strength to make catches in traffic, and he has no fear of lowering his shoulder for the tough yards. So far, it looks like Nolan holds two offers including a scholarship offer from D2 Bemidji State. I believe he is a D2 prospect, and hope that more follow in Bemidji’s path. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11129489/60985e6ea676a70cec3c4848">Nolan’s Junior Season</a> <strong>John Clifford, 6’5" 245- Watertown</strong> <em>Season Stats: 10 Receptions, 57 Yards</em> I mentioned in the introduction of this article that there might be a few future top end OL prospects in this group. The first one of those type of prospects is Clifford out of Watertown. John has excellent size for either OL or TE, but the reason I think OL might be a bright future for him is that he is a devastating blocker in the run game. It’s not just his impressive strength to maul defenders either. John also has the athleticism that while sufficient as a TE would be very good for an offensive linemen. The type of athleticism that would allow him to get to the second level and hit targets out in space with ease. Whether as a TE or OL, John has the run blocking part of his game down pat. You can see by the stats he doesn’t have much work as a receiver, but he has shown soft hands. I can’t wait for more teams to see the potential in John this fall. He currently holds a D2 offer from Upper Iowa. More are surely to come. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11351193/5f79ef3a066af40774e3f190">John’s Junior Season</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118413" first="Alec" last="Sullivan"], 6’3" 230- Assumption</strong> Season Stats: 3 Receptions, 30 Yards Alec is one of the elite run blocker in the 2022 TE Class here in Wisconsin. It’s easy to see why as talent meets opportunity thanks to Assumption’s extremely run heavy offense. While he would need time to add size, Sullivan is another one of these TEs that could also find a home along the offensive line where his athletic traits would standout. Alec’s film as a run blocker is impressive. Double teams, consistently getting to the second level, one on one blocks, finishing blocks to the ground. He checks off all of those boxes. Sullivan is a tone setter in the run game and will be able to carry that to the next level. Speaking of the next level, there doesn’t seem to be any offers, yet. However, he has recently visited UW- Whitewater, so the attention is there. He is a name to follow this fall. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11225789/5faafaf438638d0d64b81945">Alec’s Junior Season</a> <strong>Eli Schmidt, 6’5" 200- Neenah</strong> <em>Season Stats: 9 Receptions, 101 Yards, 2 TDs</em> Eli is an exciting, raw TE prospect out of Neenah HS. He is an accomplished basketball player, but has recently given football a try and you can see the potential. I was able to catch him live during Week One of the spring season, and I liked what I saw. The big man has a good frame to build on, and is already a reliable target in the redzone. You can see the basketball background shine through as he knows how to use his body to box out defenders and go up and get the ball. There is development that will need to take place, but the potential is so intriguing. Make sure to keep up with him this fall. It doesn't look like he has received any interest on the gridiron, but I believe he could end the season a prospect that has the eyes of several D2- D3 schools. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14356402/607d69f0420771195cf5a164">Redzone TD vs Bay Port</a> <strong>Daniel Zdroik, 6’7" 265- Stevens Point</strong> <em>Season Stats: 13 Receptions, 189 Yards, 1 TD</em> I have mentioned a few TEs in this article that I believe are potentially very talented OL prospects just waiting to be discovered. Stevens Point HS is home to the #1 player that I believe could make the switch to OL and find an immediate high level of success and recruiting attention. Daniel already has an amazing frame for either position at 6'7" 265 lbs, and that size translates to good play strength, and a dominant force as a run blocker. His body control at that size while out as a receiver is solid, and could really shine in pass protection at the OT position. To summarize what I see from Daniel, I believe he is a sufficient TE prospect, but his athletic traits would really shine if he moved into the trenches. It doesn't look like there are any current offers for the big man, but I highly recommend taking a look at his junior film. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13107099/609865d1d21b8c0c48cb6850">Daniel's Junior Season</a> <strong>Mark Hartlieb, 6’2" 210- Homestead</strong> <em>Season Stats: 8 Receptions, 191 Yards, 2 TDs</em> The Homestead TE is an interesting prospect. He is a bit undersized for the traditional TE position, but his athleticism, 4.71 40, has made him a difficult playmaker to cover for defenses. After watching through the film I believe he plays even faster than that reported time. He quickly gets out of his stance and eats up LB and S cushions, and after the catch you better have picked a good angle or he will make you pay. Mark could fit perfectly into an H- back/FB role with a team at the next level where they can put him in positions to be matched up against LBs out of the backfield. Hartlieb also improves his stock by being more than a receiving threat. He can also be utilized as an effective run blocker. Whether he is blocking or running a route, Mark is always going all out, 100 mph. A big season is coming for Mark. It doesn't look like any offers are reported, but a team at the next level will see the potential eventually. Check him out! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11481819/5ff4c0b1ff02381028df15cc">Mark's Junior Season</a>