Seven Tight Ends to Know from the UNC Camp

Ryan Wesley

July 13, 2021 @ 08:30 AM

[caption id="attachment_169953" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-169953 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/07/F517FC6F-1815-4DA6-8F49-7C5847F63E07.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> UNC tight ends coach Mike Armour (right) demonstrates blocking technique with [player_tooltip player_id="62246" first="Jesiah" last="Stevens-Silva"] (left).[/caption]The University of Northern Colorado held an offensive camp this past Saturday, hosting some of the state’s top athletes from every graduating class. The players competed in the box jump, shuttle drill, and a timed 40 yard dash before participating in individual and group drills led by UNC coaches and players. Each position group was filled with more than a few outstanding players, all of whom were eager to show off their talents in order to impress the college staff. Below is a list of seven players worthing of being added to a tight end prospect list for college programs. [player_tooltip player_id="22713" first="Cash" last="Cheeks"] | Mesa Ridge | 6’5”, 205lbs | 2022 ATH/TE/WR Cheeks is a player who immediately stands out due to his size alone. He is a lengthy athlete with explosive acceleration and sharp route running. During the camp, Cheeks was being evaluated as a potential tight end and wide receiver by the UNC staff. He has the size of an ideal receiving tight end who moves like a potential outside wide receiver, making him a prospect with great potential. [embed]https://twitter.com/CashCheeks02/status/1414106278847082502?s=20[/embed] [player_tooltip player_id="153697" first="Aidan" last="Achtziger"] | Erie | 6’3”, 225lbs | 2022 TE Achtziger has been building a strong reputation for himself as one of the top tight ends in his class over the past year. He has used this offseason to continuously improve his craft at various events and camps. His skill set consists of a healthy balance of blocking, route running, and pass catching abilities. Achtziger is in a prime position to have a dominant senior season, making him a must-watch player this fall. [embed]https://twitter.com/aidanachtziger/status/1414351513170837506?s=20[/embed] Campbell Packbush | Chatfield | 6’4”, 225lbs | 2022 OT/DE Packbush’s primary position as a high school player is on the offensive line as a tackle. However, his size, speed, and overall athleticism have landed him on recruiting radars as a potential tight end prospect. In fact, Packbush announced himself as a tight end before running an impressively quick 40 yard dash. With his experience as a lineman, Packbush could easily be molded into an outstanding blocking tight end in college. [player_tooltip player_id="62246" first="Jesiah" last="Stevens-Silva"] | Fountain-Fort Carson | 6’2”, 200lbs | 2023 TE Stevens-Silva has been consistently raising his stock since the beginning of the offseason, earning himself invitations to camps with every event appearance. He has sharp route-running abilities and is very explosive out of his breaks. His ability to track and corral the ball is just as elite as his ability to block. One thing about Stevens-Silva that stands out the most is how well he is able to take the various coaching that he has received and immediately apply that to his game. [embed]https://twitter.com/ElleSnev/status/1414365448703983618?s=20[/embed] [player_tooltip player_id="62214" first="Mac" last="Busteed"] | Fossil Ridge | 6’5”, 205lbs | 2023 WR/TE [caption id="attachment_169956" align="alignright" width="239"]<img class="wp-image-169956 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/07/229CE1C3-DF7F-47FC-8A10-10811D6230E2.jpeg" alt="" width="239" height="159" /> [player_tooltip player_id="62214" first="Mac" last="Busteed"][/caption]Busteed is another player who instantly stands out as a result of his size alone. His strides enable him to chew up field quickly, which mixes perfectly with his ability to track the ball in the air. Busteed is a receiving tight end who possesses the qualities needed to line up with a more traditional wide receiver split, making him an extremely versatile player. Colton Mills-Younger | Poudre | 6’2”, 200lbs | 2024 TE Mills-Younger started to turn heads early in the combine drills of the camp. He has excellent size for his age, along with the ability to move well on the field. His size and strength makes him a great option for a run blocking tight end who can slip out into coverage as a receiving target. [player_tooltip player_id="169556" first="Aiden" last="McGrath"] | Berthoud | 6’1”, 195lbs | 2024 TE McGrath is another young player with a tremendous upside to his stock value. He has great size with outstanding athleticism that can easily be identified whenever he runs his routes. McGrath has the frame needed to be a solid blocking tight end in addition to his receiving skill set. [embed]https://twitter.com/AidenMcGrath18/status/1414277456249298948?s=20[/embed]