’23 Preseason Super 7 – Class 3A Tight Ends

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-class-5a-tight-ends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5A Tight Ends</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-4a-tight-ends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4A Tight Ends</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-quarterbacks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 QBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-running-backs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 RBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-receivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 WRs (scroll down</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa –&nbsp;</strong>July arrives this weekend, drawing closer the start of the high school football season. And we all know times flies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been highlighting top performers from last season returning in 2023. You can see the links for quarterbacks, running backs and receivers in all seven of the state's classifications listed above.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've reached the tight end position. Here's the group in Class 3A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Koby Higginbotham, '25, Knoxville - </strong>Higginbotham is a bit of a mystery as he does not have any football video up on his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16600433/Koby-Higginbotham" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl page</a></strong>. He also does not list his height and weight, and they're not included on Knoxville's '22 roster on Bound. He did earn all-district honorable mention as a sophomore last season after catching 23 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns. He added the team's only two-point conversion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braden Johnson, '24, Grinnell - </strong>Johnson (6-4, 215) shows that he's a complete tight end in the first several clips of his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17748774/636bdff7b0232704248cbada" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> from last season. He proves he's a proficient blocker when lining up in-line, where he can also get into his routes quickly. He looks comfortable being tight to the O-Line or in splitting out. He has good hands and is a fluid runner after the catch. He registered 18 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns in '22. He recorded 3.0 tackles for loss on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scott Harr, '24, Hampton-Dumont - </strong>The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Harr boasts the requisite size for the position. As a junior in '22, he hauled in 22 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He stood out on defense as well with 13.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks. He also intercepted a pass and averaged 38.5 yards on 22 punts. While watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14864201/638822a5578dfc0ae84cfd8e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11th-grade Hudl highlights</a></strong>, you see his receiving ability during the first few clips. He beats defenders with speed and physicality. He also displays reliable hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Landon Schroeder, '24, DeWitt Central - </strong>Unfortunately, Schroeder (6-6, 170) doesn't have any recent football highlights posted on his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14629070/Landon-Schroeder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl page</a></strong>. His basketball clips show a fluid athlete with long limbs who runs the floor well. He finished second on the Sabers in receptions (16) and receiving yards (215) last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='252314' first='Will' last='Hawthorne'], '24, Gilbert - </strong>Hawkthorne (6-2, 220) stood out last season as a sophomore. He caught 16 balls for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 439 yards and a five scores. On defense, he contributed 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack with an interception. <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15345191/63646245f560170810234d3f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">His 10-grade highlights on Hudl</a></strong> highlight his blocking on offense, whether he's lining up at fullback, tight end or elsewhere. He runs well during his routes or when he's rushing with the football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='431418' first='Kannon' last='Bork'], '24, Bishop Heelan - </strong>At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Bork succeeds as a strong two-way player. He checked in second on his team with 19 receptions and his 183 receiving yards ranked third on the squad last year. He also caught a touchdown. On defense, he totaled 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. His <strong>junior highlights</strong> show him lining up outside more than in-line because he creates mismatches out there. He settles in areas void of defenders and produces after the catch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will Palmer, '24, Nevada - </strong>Palmer (6-2, 220) secured 15 receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown in '22. He added 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks on defense. During his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14862158/638a5d31b023d00bfcb6a697" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>, you witness a disruptive force defensively up front, where he lines up inside and out. He's quick off of the snap and powers through blocks. He brings that physicality to tight end as well. He plows through opponents as a blocker. He also runs clean routes and can run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->