Who are the Best Tight Ends in the 2024 Class?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a plethora of pass catchers in Missouri's 2024 class. However, tight ends must be versatile in order to align in the slot, or have their hand in the dirt as a fullback. I wanted to take a look at six of the best prospects in Missouri who will have no problem handling tight end duties at the next level. </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":"Jace Whatley","_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":"6'5u0022","_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":"Ozark 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":"Jace Whatley is a two-sport athlete whose recruitment is picking up steam out of Ozark High School. After going to a Kansas game day visit last fall, Jace has junior day invites to South Dakota State and Dartmouth for this spring. He has also been getting a lot of attention from Miami of Ohio, so expect more schools within the region to come calling before Jace's career at Ozark is finished.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eJace's acceleration shows exploding off the end of the line of scrimmage, while his quickness u0026amp; next level speed allows him to split defensive backs when working up the seam versus cover three. Good hands and adjustment ability shows finding the ball in air on fade routes and extending outside his frame over the middle. Jace's strength and contested catch ability shows absorbing contact at the catchpoint over the middle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1112397' first='James' last='Rexroat']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Republic High School ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1112397' first='James' last='Rexroat'] is a three-sport athlete out of Republic High School. James received his first offer in January from Missouri State and has been to a camp at Pitt State. I saw James received some Wisconsin football literature on his Twitter account, and I would expect the letters to keep coming in as we settle in to spring.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eJames' power shows down blocking defensive ends at the point of attack. Speed shows eating up cushion from a slot alignment before separating at the top of routes. Good length and strong hands show high pointing 50-50 balls in the endzone. James' athleticism shows adjusting in the endzone, but also in the middle of the field when post patterns are thrown outside of his radius.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["126227"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='126227' first='Ezra' last='Peterson'] has been on gameday visits to Kansas State and Oklahoma. The playmaker for North Kansas City High School should be a highly coveted tight end prospect going into his senior season.rnrnEzra's solid hands and tracking ability show adjusting at the catchpoint on vertical routes. Good speed u0026amp; athleticism for a next level H-TE shows as Ezra rips off chunk plays as North Kansas City's running back. Quickness shows breaking tackles laterally, while strength u0026amp; balance lets him barrel through a crowded second level. Ezra's size u0026amp; physicality will prove him to be a versatile Y-TE at the next level; Coaches love Ezra's blocking potential in the footwork he shows blocking in space and the power he shows in his finishes.","_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":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1109266' first='Whit' last='Hafer']","_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":"6'7u0022","_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":"Joplin 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1109266' first='Whit' last='Hafer'] committed to Mizzou on February 25th. The two-sport athlete will be sure to rely on his basketball skills once he starts catching passes in Columbia.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eWhit's length, radius, and rebounding ability shows on the first play of his highlight tape as he grabs a jump ball in the endzone over the heads of two defenders. Upper-body strength and good hand placement shows in Whit's punch as a blocker; Coaches love seeing Whit follow up initial contact with good leg drive and a competitiveness that leaves defensive linemen in the dirt. Good strength and balance after contact shows dragging defenders from the second level into the open field.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["185414"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='185414' first='Keelan' last='Smith'] is a do-it-all playmaker for Liberty North High School. Keelan holds offers from Mizzou u0026amp; Nebraska, and has been on visits to Iowa, Arkansas, and Kansas State. Keelan's experience at X, Y-TE, and H-TE make him a coveted offensive prospect for coaches recruiting the Kansas City area.rnrnKeelan's run after catch ability gets highlighted by vision as a ball carrier and fluid athleticism shown making defenders miss in traffic. Speed shows beating defensive backs vertically who are aligned in off coverage. Keelan tracks the ball well in the air and shows his solid hands consistently adjusting to balls outside of his frame. Power shows in his finish and effort when stalk blocking in the slot.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["178435"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='178435' first='Jaden' last='Reddell'] is hands down the best 2024 tight end prospect in Missouri. Pick names of Power 5 schools out of a hat and you should be able to find their scholarship offer on Jaden's Twitter account.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eJaden's quick feet and explosive athleticism shows separating from man coverage at the top of routes. Good power and balance after contact shows in effortless stiff arms in the open field. Jaden's red zone film contains everything you would want from a goal line target; Good contested catch ability shows running slants in traffic, while his radius shows catching fades in the endzone. Jaden's combination of size, speed, strong hands, and athleticism in the open field should have him contributing as a versatile H-TE early in his college career.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-640f73b3b342a"} /-->