The Puget Sound’s Top 2023 TEs

More and more in the modern game, we are seeing game-changing tight ends becoming vital parts of a high-functioning offense, and that trend is starting to make its way down to the high school levels. In a position that is known for its size requisites, it would traditionally be thought that the best tight ends will typically come from the Midwest and South, and while we still do see great players come from these regions, we are seeing more and more come from the west coast every year. As we continue our series looking at the top players in the Puget Sound area by position, I will be looking at some of the top senior tight ends to keep an eye on this season, many of whom are already committed to Power 5 programs, and others that have drawn these schools' attention, that will be looking to make their mark at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id="333660" first="Kade" last="Eldridge"] | 6'5" 235 | Lynden Christian HS (Lynden)   Listed as an athlete, the USC-bound Eldridge possesses the size and speed necessary to be a strong tight end at the next level, and the tape only hammers this point home. Players his size rarely move with the type of fluidity he does at a young age, and he shows exceptional burst in the open field that almost looks like a running back or receiver. Playing primarily fullback for Lynden Christian's offense, Eldridge has not gotten a ton of run as a receiver, so playing tight end at the next level would require a bit of projection. However, he has flourished in that spot whenever he has been tasked with catching the ball, so I see no reason he cannot continue to develop this area of his game and thrive. Overall, Eldridge is a top-tier athlete at the high school level who can thrive at whatever position his college coaching staff puts him at, including tight end.   [player_tooltip player_id="155549" first="Cooper" last="Jensen"] | 6'5" 210 | Glacier Peak HS (Snohomish)   The first of two Oregon State commits that I will be looking at, Jensen is a smooth and physical athlete that can win in many different ways as a tight end. He primarily lined up outside for Glacier Peak, which allowed him to showcase his strong route running ability and run-after-catch prowess. However, for a player that lined up outside the numbers, Jensen was still able to showcase a good amount of physicality as a blocker in space, and while we have not seen him do it as much in-line, his performance on defense makes me think that he could develop this skillset with some seasoning and a college weight staff. Overall, Jensen is a long athlete that will fit in well at the PAC-12 level the second he steps on the field. I'm looking forward to seeing how he continues to grow his existing skillset in his senior season with talented players all over the field for Glacier Peak.   [player_tooltip player_id="333665" first="Tucker" last="Ashcraft"] | 6'5" 235 | O'Dea HS (Seattle)   What impresses me the most about Ashcraft's game is that he can do everything at a high level, not forcing himself into any specific niche. While O'Dea is known for their use of tight ends in-line and as blockers, Ashcraft is still able to make a mark in the receiving game downfield with excellent hands and the ability to make catches in traffic. That's not to say that Ashcraft is not a blocker; rather, he is excellent at this part of the game as well, as he always drives his feet and does a good job of finishing off blocks down the field. His overall movement ability is impressive for a guy his size as well, possessing strong agility and speed for a bigger guy. Already committed to Colorado, I fully anticipate Ashcraft to blow up in his senior season at O'Dea and put up the type of production that will make people wonder why they hadn't heard about him sooner.   [player_tooltip player_id="87483" first="Dorian" last="Thomas"] | 6'5" 220 | Kentridge HS (Kent)   Another player from the Sound who will be heading to Corvallis next fall, Thomas brings a lot to the table both as a blocker and a receiver. Starting as a blocker, Thomas brings a good amount of physicality when he lines up in the backfield, regularly putting his assignment into the ground. As a receiver, he does not possess the same pure speed that his future teammate Cooper Jensen does, but he is excellent as a contested-catch guy and a reliable target in the downfield passing game. He is an exceptionally smart route runner and always finds openings in the defense that his quarterback can exploit. He also has some savvy as a runner, as he can make defenders miss in open space with a lot more frequency than you would expect from someone his size. Thomas is another guy that will have a chance to really shine his senior season, and I know college coaches will have a close eye on how he finishes his high school career.   [player_tooltip player_id="160820" first="Gabe" last="Hoffmann"] | 6'6" 245 | Eastside Catholic HS (Sammamish)   The first thing you notice when you turn on the tape with Hoffmann is his size. As just a junior in high school, he already possesses the build that a lot of Power 5 programs desire in their tight ends, and he makes good on that with physicality as a blocker. He moves decently well as a route runner, especially given his frame, but agility is an area that I would like to see if he can improve on in his senior campaign. He is already getting attention from several FBS programs and, with a little more production in the receiving game this fall, I think that recruiters will be all over him going into college.   [player_tooltip player_id="333739" first="Jake" last="Wood"] | 6'3" 230" | Eatonville HS (Eatonville)   The way that Eatonville utilizes Wood's skillset is interesting, as he is a fantastic blocker and they have made use of that in several different spots, including fullback, in-line, and in the slot. Wood brings a great punch to his initial contact and is routinely able to get defenders off balance right away, and his powerful leg drive only serves to back them up even further. He is an exceptionally smart player as well, which is an underrated trait for blockers; he knows how to use his leverage and the players around him to generate the largest possible hole for whoever he is blocking for. None of this is to sell Wood's receiving ability short either, as he moves very well in space and has strong acceleration, making him dangerous after the catch. I would like to see more production in the passing game from Wood this fall, but if he can do that, coaches at the next level will start to take notice.

More and more in the modern game, we are seeing game-changing tight ends becoming vital parts of a high-functioning offense, and that trend is starting to make its way down to the high school levels. In a position that is known for its size requisites, it would traditionally be thought that the best tight ends will typically come from the Midwest and South, and while we still do see great players come from these regions, we are seeing more and more come from the west coast every year. As we continue our series looking at the top players in the Puget Sound area by position, I will be looking at some of the top senior tight ends to keep an eye on this season, many of whom are already committed to Power 5 programs, and others that have drawn these schools' attention, that will be looking to make their mark at the next level.