8 2024 Tight Ends to keep an eye on

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the top Tight Ends or "Y" receivers that have caught my eye in the Land of Lincoln. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"AJ Carlson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lemont High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Plays the Upback position for Lemont and is mostly in a 2-point stance but will get his hand down as an inline tight end as well. Does a great job of catching the ball with his hands and has the athletic ability to break away from linebackers and safeties down field. Above average blocker, he does a good job with his hands and staying in front of the defender. Smart player (3.65 GPA) who can also handle long snapping duties and help out any special team unit immediately. Look for an impactful senior season as AJ catches some FCS/D2 attention. His Twitter handle is u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@AJCarlson82u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6a3e1e10d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":650795,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ben Cooper","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Maine West High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Also a top LB prospect, this 4.0 GPA athlete out of Maine West impresses on offense as much as he does on defense. Playing more of the traditional u0022Spreadu0022 TE, he will line up in the slot on and off the ball for the Warriors. He does a great job of tracking the ball in the air and catches with his hands. He has the frame to bulk up and play a move TE at the next level or continue to play outside in a spread style offense. Look for a big 2023 season from Ben. His Twitter handle is u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@BenCooper44u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["271911"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another big body 2-way prospect at TE and LB, Charlie definitely has the frame to add some weight and be an absolute match up nightmare for defenses. He currently plays and inline TE for the run heavy Crusaders but he can easily slide out and play wide or even in the slot and be equally effective. Does a good job using his stride and length to separate from defenders covering him and has soft hands and reach to catch any ball thrown his way. Look for a big season as he heads into his senior year. His Twitter handle is u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@charliemullen06u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["271816"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"This massive prospect for St Charles North is already college sized and is due for a HUGE senior season. Jake does a great job handling inline duties as well as lining up outside in certain packages/personnels. He can understand any offense he plays in (4.2 GPA) and his size makes him a nightmare for high school defenses. Even with his 240 pound frame, he still has the athletic ability to run away from larger defenders. He does a great job of being patient in the run game as well and really uses his hands and frame to erase defenders. He is gathering major college attention as has already received one FBS offer (Eastern Michigan). Look for many more this spring/summer and a big 2023! His Twitter handle is  u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@JakeFurtneyu003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":650818,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Karsen Konkel","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Pinckneyville High School ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"At 6'6 220 this freak athlete from Southern Illinois is an anomaly on the field. The question is not where does he line up at the next level, it is how many spots! He currently plays running back for the Panthers but I project him to be one of those once in a lifetime Tight Ends that can play all over the field effectively. A long strider he has the frame to add weight without losing any of the speed and athleticism that separates him as high school performer. He holds an offer from SIU-Carbondale and I would expect many more to come in during the summer and his senior season. His Twitter handle is u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@karsen_konkelu003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["353992"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"They grow Tight Ends on trees at Waubonsie Valley and Julian is the next great branch on that tree. A huge prospect at 6'6, he plays faster than the safeties covering him and at 215 pounds bigger than the linebackers trying to tackle him. Julian runs crisp routes when lined up outside and does a good job of catching the ball with his hands. He plays all over the field currently for the Warriors but I look for him to add some size at the next level and be an elite TE. He holds multiple offers already (SIU, ISU, WMU, Ball State) and I would expect that list to multiply as the spring/summer progress. His Twitter handle is  u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@julianrjohnsonu003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["276620"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Just another match up nightmare for defenses, Braxton lines up all over the field (WR, Slot, TE, FB) to find the mismatch and take advantage of the defender covering him. He is the one u0022Tight endu0022 on this list who will end up playing a true Wide Receiver at the next level because of his size/speed. He catches the ball well in traffic and does enough blocking at the point of attack to be effective in the run game. He caught 7 touchdowns in 2022 and I would definitely look for him to eclipse that in 2023. His Twitter handle is u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@braxtonbartzu003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["354158"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"In what seems to be the theme of this article, this 6'3 do everything prospect from Yorkville will line up all over the field for the Foxes. I expect Dominic to end up being an up-back/fullback type at the next level but he has the frame to be a move TE as well. Does a good job blocking in the run game and helps just enough in the passing game to be a threat to any defense. Another true scholar (4.425 GPA) he is gathering some Ivy league interest as well as local FCS schools. His Twitter handle is u003cspan class=u0022css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0u0022u003e@DomVash_Bensonu003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6a3e1e125"} /-->