PLAYOFF PREVIEW: 7A Tight Ends To Know

Matt DeBary November 9, 2022 @ 10:16 AM

The playoffs are here and we're excited to jump into the breakdowns and give you the latest on which players you need to keep an eye on for the next several weeks. The 7A class is full of incredibly talented teams and players, so there's plenty of tight ends to know about during this first week.     [player_tooltip player_id='34057' first='Lawson' last='Luckie'] - Norcross   Onee of the top TE prospects across the South for the 2023 class, the Georgia Bulldog commitment and four-star prospect is a dynamic pass-catching tight end who should see lots of passes come his way in the 1st round as Norcross takes on Mountain View. He's physical blocker with plenty of size at 6-foot-3 225-pounds, but he's a true weapon in the passing game. He has strong, reliable hands and knows how to pick up big yards after the catch. As a senior this fall, Luckie caught 36 passes for 476 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='220729' first='Landen' last='Thomas'] - Colquitt County   The Packers of Colquitt County have state-championship aspirations this year and have plenty of weapons on offense to make it happen. One of their top players is elite junior tight end [player_tooltip player_id='220729' first='Landen' last='Thomas'] who is already committed to play for the Georgia Bulldogs down the road. An athletic pass-catcher with plenty of size at 6-foot-4 230-pounds. He's gifted physically and shows soft hands down the field. When he has the ball, he's so tough to bring down by just one defender. He can high-point the football with ease and a major weapon in the red-zone. The early 5-star prospect has caught 28 passes this year for 495 yards for an average of over 17 yards per reception with five touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='309600' first='Hunter' last='Teal'] - Walton   One of the most productive 2023 tight ends across the state this year, Teal is a major weapon in the passing game for junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='137483' first='Jeremy' last='Hecklinski'] and will be in position to catch a lot of passes this weekend against South Forsyth in the 1st round. He's a vertical threat and runs an impressive route for a tight end. A physical runner down the field, Teal is as sure-handed as it gets, catching 35 passes for 701 yards and three touchdowns. He's been a big-play machine all season and should keep that going in the playoffs for the Raiders.   Will Collins - North Gwinnett   A true football player with grit and toughness, Collins is a true utility player who consistently does his job on every play. Whether he's blocking in the run game or catching passes, Collins is going to due his job effectively. He's a physical guy who can break tackles down the field, and he shows strong hands as well. He's quick for a tight end and is asked to do a number of different things in the Bulldog offense. He's the type of player that coaches love to have on their side. He caught 20 passes for over 370 yards and three touchdowns. Look for him to be an impact player for North Gwinnett as they take on Dacula in the first round.   [player_tooltip player_id='321447' first='Kylan' last='Fox'] - Grayson   One of the top two-way prospects in Gwinnett County for the 2024 class, Fox is a long, physical athlete and a complete modern-day tight end. He's an excellent blocker on the edge or on the perimeter, opening up running lanes all over the field. He's also a big-play weapon as a pass-catcher due to his frame and ball skills. He's a long-strider who picks up yards in a hurry when he's running down the field. He's also a weapon in jump-ball situations, using his bigger frame to beat smaller defenders for the ball. At 6-foot-4 215-pounds, he's already a major D1 prospect and should see plenty of passes come his way in the 1st round this weekend against Hillgrove.

The playoffs are here and we're excited to jump into the breakdowns and give you the latest on which players you need to keep an eye on for the next several weeks. The 7A class is full of incredibly talented teams and players, so there's plenty of tight ends to know about during this first week.