2024 Superlatives: Biggest Mismatch TEs

In today’s era of high school football, if you want to succeed on offense, you have to have exceptional tight end play. It’s important to have big-bodied athletes to can hold their own in the run game, but maybe more importantly, you have to have guys who can catch the ball and make plays in the passing game. They can be mismatch nightmares for opposing defenses, and there are many tight ends across South Georgia in the 2024 class who are big-time playmakers in the passing game. &nbsp; <strong><a class="player-name js-profile-link" href="https://www.hudl.com/athlete/16437107">Walter Matthews</a> - Hiram</strong> He didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet last year as a sophomore, but make no mistake, Matthews is a massive target at 6-foot-7 245-pounds who can really help in the passing game. He’s a fluid route-runner for his size and he has no problem bringing down a tough catch. He can make plays in the middle of the field and has too much length and size for the average linebacker to defend in coverage. He has big, strong hands, and could be one of the breakout 2024 tight ends across Georgia this spring. He’s finally getting some buzz on the recruiting trail, and he could see new offers come his way shortly. Last fall, Matthews only caught 12 balls, but they went for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Look for him to make a bigger impact as a junior in 2022. &nbsp; <strong>Michael Smith – Calvary Day</strong> A dynamic pass-catcher from Savannah, Smith is a big-play waiting to happen and really shined all throughout his sophomore season last fall. Smith has plenty of size for his age at 6-foot-4 225-pounds, making him physically imposing for someone with his athleticism. He has reliable hands, but his ability to pick up plenty of yards after the catch is what makes him to dangerous with the ball. As one of the biggest playmakers in the Savannah area, Smith showed that he has D1 talent with his 42 receptions for 684 yards and nine touchdowns. He beat defenses with his speed and knows how to get tough yards down the field as well. He can break tackles in the secondary and rarely comes down easy from smaller defenders. He’s a two-way player so you know he brings some toughness to the table as well. Smith already looks the part of a D1 prospect and still has two years to continue perfecting his craft. He already holds early offers from Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina, among others. &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/landen-thomas-2/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="220729" first="Landen" last="Thomas"]</span></a> – Colquitt County</strong> One of the top 2024 playmakers in South Georgia, sophomore tight end <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/landen-thomas-2/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="220729" first="Landen" last="Thomas"]</span></a> is one of the top tight end prospects in the South with a great frame and above-average athleticism. At 6-foot-4 210-pounds, Thomas is a mismatch problem for defenses due to his size and ability to move. He’s a big-bodied pass catcher who is only scratching the surface of his potential. Thomas caught only 31 passes so fall, but they’ve went for 516 yards and seven touchdowns, proving he’s a big-play threat on any particular play. He’s also an impact blocker on the edge and will continue to add more weight and muscle over the next few years. Look for Thomas to be ranked as one of the top 2024 TE prospects in American down the road. The Moultrie native checks many of the boxes coaches look for, and his ability to make plays in the passing game should help him have a great junior season this fall. &nbsp; <strong>Hunter Teal – Walton</strong> A tough, gritty player who can play on both sides of the ball, Teal is an instinctive linebacker/tight end who showed this past fall that he can be a big weapon in the passing game. His versatility stands out the most as he can line up in multiple positions to get an advantage over the defense. He can be a mismatch for linebackers and has a size advantage when going up against smaller defensive backs. He can line up in the backfield as well and shows reliable hands when the ball comes his way. He can break tackles after the catch and can help block in the run game as well. He played well against some tough 7A competition as a sophomore and could easily see his stock start to rise more and more over the next several months. &nbsp;