PRZ Iowa | C/O 2022 Rankings | December Update

Some newcomers emerged and some existing ranked players saw their stock rise through outstanding and substantial play this fall. Take a look below to see where they landed in the 2022 position rankings update and find out what makes them so good at their craft. These Tight Ends blocked and received their way to big Senior campaigns that should lead to plenty of opportunity at the next level. This is a stacked list that features plenty of talent that has the potential to thrive on Saturdays. Check some of them out below in depth. Newcomers TE5 [player_tooltip player_id="243197" first="Brenden" last="Linde"], 6’4 200, Kennedy, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16071461/Brenden-Linde">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendenLinde004">Twitter</a> Linde, a premier example of toughness and finesse rolled into one, returned to football for his Senior year and is one of the top newcomers in the entire state coming in at 5 in the Tight End rankings. This exceptional athlete has a very high ceiling and is someone who is capable of playing big time football on Saturdays. Linde is a modern Tight End; a big body who can handle himself at the line of scrimmage blocking and put moves on in routes or after a catch. His highlights are very clear evidence of this. Linde does an especially good job of selling a block then releasing into a route, being physical against coverage in the first five yards of a route, and getting up field right after a catch is made. He caught 32 passes for 497 yards and 8 touchdowns for Kennedy and was a big asset as an extra blocker. TE18 [player_tooltip player_id="243204" first="Sam" last="Remmerde"], 6’4 205, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12176075/Sam-Remmerde">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RemmerdeSam">Twitter</a> Remmerde, who caught 18 passes for 372 yards and 5 touchdowns this fall for the Nighthawks, jumps into the Tight End rankings at 18. He is an ultra athletic and lengthy player who dominates on the basketball court and could be the next slightly undersized board crashing, low post hooper to really settle in on the gridiron and dominate at the next level. Remmerde can go up, get fully extended, and grab balls that few can. It is also clear that he has exceptionally quick feet. His athletic development and measurables scream next level Tight End. Remmerde played a big role for the Nighthawks during their run to the 3A championship game on both sides of the ball. He notched a touchdown and a sack in their semifinal rout of Solon. Remmerde is someone College coaches should inquire about. TE20 [player_tooltip player_id="243203" first="Nate" last="Graves"], 6’4 210, Dike-New Hartford, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11588501/Nathan-Graves">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanGDNH">Twitter</a> Wolverines’ Tight End [player_tooltip player_id="243203" first="Nate" last="Graves"] joins the loaded class of 2022 Tight End rankings at number 20 after catching 30 passes for 455 yards and 2 touchdowns this year. Something that Graves does an excellent job of is creating separation over the middle of the field and giving his Quarterback a lane to throw the ball where only he can get it. The way he attacks Linebackers and adjusts the speed and direction of his route to create windows away from secondary defenders is mature and makes him a reliable target. It is obvious that the threat of contact doesn’t phase him. Graves has several catches on film where he takes big hits as he’s pulling the ball in; he secures the catch and keeps fighting. Graves is also capable of splitting out and creating matchups problems for smaller Defensive Backs. TE26 [player_tooltip player_id="243205" first="Braxton" last="Stewart"], 6’3 200, Waukon, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8647698/Braxton-Stewart">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/braxstewart">Twitter</a> Stewart, a dominant two-way player for the Indians, is a terrific route runner and is especially nimble for his size. His film is evidence of a player who could thrive across formations as a Tight End, H, and Slot. Stewart appears in the Tight End rankings at number 26 coming off a season where he caught 14 passes for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns. What stands out most about Stewart’s game is how he can adjust to the ball and maneuver at the top of routes to make what could be a difficult catch look routine. He took a flare route against Oelwein 40 yards for a touchdown. On the play the ball was overthrown and Stewart had to break his route and step up to catch the ball, which put him right into the Strong Safety’s face. He secured the catch and reacted instantly to cut on a dime to evade contact. TE30 [player_tooltip player_id="243200" first="Paul" last="Freund"], 6’3 190, Woodbine, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/7906302/Paul-Freund">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulFreund16">Twitter</a> Freund joins the Tight End rankings at number 30 coming off of a highly productive year where he caught 49 passes for 782 yards and 9 touchdowns. Those statistics were good for a top ten finish in receptions and receiving yards and a top 25 finish in receiving touchdowns in the world of 8-player football. He lined up this fall as a true Tight End and an X, which likely had to do with matchups and where he could be most effective and effective he was. At Tight End he displayed traditional abilities of the position like running over the middle of the field and in underneath zones. When split out he showcased impressive speed, leaping ability, and dexterity, especially on vertical routes. His toughness in high traffic areas and athleticism elsewhere is apparent and would have dominated any classification. Stockrisers TE3 [player_tooltip player_id="99196" first="Brayden" last="Loftin"], 6’5 210, Lewis Central, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8741795/Brayden-Loftin">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BraydenLoftin1">Twitter</a> Kansas State commit and state champion [player_tooltip player_id="99196" first="Brayden" last="Loftin"] jumps up to number 3 in the Tight End category. What he put on display on his way to a 44 catch, 611 yard, 7 touchdown season speaks to how ready he is for the next level. The moves he makes, in routes or after the catch, are so subtle. It is nearly impossible for defenders to tell when he is going to break because of the way he maintains stride. Sticking with him in man coverage or making an open field tackle on Loftin is a difficult task. It is clear based on the way he attacks his routes that he understands when and where he will be open based on concept and coverage. The way he adjusts speed and attacks space, especially against zones speaks to that. At the end of the day Loftin is an elite athlete who can make an impact playing Division 1 ball in the near future. TE6 [player_tooltip player_id="148097" first="Nolan" last="Recker"], 6’4 230, Muscatine, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12660855/Nolan-Recker">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ReckerNolan">Twitter</a> Recker, a Division 1 recruit who now holds a few offers, saw his stock rise in a major way this season and jumps all the way up to number 6. Recker’s statistics, 26 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown, don’t speak to just how dominant of an athlete and true prototype at the Tight End position he is; he played on a Muscatine team that was down and struggled to get much going on offense through their 9 games. Recker, however, still managed to shine and let everyone know what he can do. What really jumps out on film is the physical strength he plays the position with. There is so much functional power in the way he blocks and catches passes. The way he keeps defenders in coverage away from the ball and is an absolute load to get to the ground is second to none. Wherever he commits is getting one heck of a player. TE8 [player_tooltip player_id="148070" first="Layne" last="Mcdonald"], 6’3 215, Waverly-Shell Rock, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11350914/Layne-McDonald">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LayneMcD40">Twitter</a> McDonald is certainly one of the best examples of a player who can do both: block and catch passes. There is a great degree of physicality and tenacity that jumps out on his film. McDonald caught a respectable 8 passes for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns this season, but it’s his style of play that moved him up to number 8 in the Tight End rankings. As a receiver he does an excellent job of slipping behind Linebackers and splitting deep zones to get open; he’s had a number of long receptions in his high school career. McDonald gets a lot of movement on base blocks and combos with expertise. The way he can overtake a double and reach a Defensive Lineman or peel and climb to a Linebacker is outstanding. McDonald executes the intricate details of the position as well as anyone. TE17 [player_tooltip player_id="148116" first="Colby" last="Rich"], 6’2 190, CAM, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10772118/Colby-Rich">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/_Colby_Rich_">Twitter</a> Rich, another 8-player stud and basketball player, applied his talents to the football field in a big way this fall posting 27 catches for 541 yards and 6 touchdowns and helped the Cougars capture a state championship. He was a terrific compliment to the run heavy CAM offense who could take the top off a defense and threaten deep when opponents started to sell out against the run. One of Rich’s top performances came in the first round of the playoffs against a stingy Fremont-Mills team who kept it a one score game through the half. Rich caught 3 passes for 91 yards and a score, kept the defense honest, and the Cougars broke away. Rich is explosive and can leap. He can really slash and get to the rim in basketball; he can go up and snag balls out of the air with the very same skill set. TE22 [player_tooltip player_id="99204" first="Jake" last="Sidles"], 6’0 210, Independence, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8678708/Jacob-Sidles">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSidles">Twitter</a> Sidles hauled in a respectable 10 catches for 109 yards and 4 touchdowns this year from the Tight End position, but was undeniably one of the best blocking Tight Ends and H backs this fall and that is what bumps him up to number 22 in the rankings. Sidles’ blocking helped pave the way for one of Iowa’s top rushing attacks that featured one of just three players outside of 8-player football to eclipse 2,000 yards. He plowed through defenders to clear rushing lanes and had a knack for planting undisciplined players in the dirt who got too far upfield. Sidles attacked with low hips, active feet, and tight hands. He accelerated on contact and opponents, even larger ones, stood no chance. Traditional Fullbacks and blocking H backs seem to be back in fashion lately; Sidles would be great in that role at the next level.