2023 Midseason Stock Risers: TEs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have now completed the first half of the 2023 season and there have been plenty of athletes that have seen their stock rise through the first five weeks of the season. Here are some tight ends that have really stood out during the first half of the 2023 season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884083' first='Jax' last='McCarty'] - Scott '24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["884083"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Big 6'4 220 TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='884083' first='Jax' last='McCarty'] has looked the most athletic out of the tight ends I've been able to watch film on at the midseason point and has made a nice impact with his new team the Scott Skyhawks. McCarty made the move to Scott for his senior season from Van and has helped them reach the 5-0 mark through the first five games of the season. McCarty's stats won't blow you away in the passing game but Scott has a lot of mouths to feed in their spread offense and they have several dudes at receiver taking the majority of the catches. However, McCarty has still been able to catch seven passes for 171 yards and a touchdown but had a huge breakout game last week versus Chapmanville. He had 3 catches for 134 yards and his lone touchdown in that game which may be a great sign moving forward with his production increasing. McCarty has made his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball with 14 total tackles and two sacks.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["823812"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='823812' first='Maddox' last='Perine'] has put on size and strength since last season and is seeing more time as a traditional tight end this year after being a hybrid TE/WR last season. He's noticeably bigger and stronger this season and is now listed as 6'2 220 which is much closer to the size he needs to be in order to play the tight end position in college. Perine still has his big play ability that he showed as a junior and can still flex out to the slot or even carry the ball but he has also shown this season that he can be physical in the blocking game which is great to see. Perine still looks just as athletic as he looked last season and hasn't lost a step with the added weight gain. Through five games, Perine has caught 12 passes on 15 targets for 187 yards and five total touchdowns.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1020899"],"_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":"A new name to our tight end list this season is Mingo Central's [player_tooltip player_id='1020899' first='Alex' last='Muncy'] who is a TE/H-Back hybrid for the Miners. The 6'0 205 senior is primarily used as a blocker where he's excelling this season for the 5-0 Miners. Several of his blocks in his highlights have sprung long runs and Muncy has also put some good pass-blocking clips on film in Mingo Central's balanced offense. Muncy is a key component to their offense and a big reason why their rushing attack has been so deadly thus far and why teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1015079' first='Dylan' last='Vance'] has made our Midseason RB Stock Risers list too. Muncy is also very productive on the defensive side of the ball as an outside linebacker and an under-the-radar 2024 prospect that you should check out.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1020944"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another blocking tight end that I was impressed with when watching his film from the first five weeks is junior Hurricane Redskin [player_tooltip player_id='1020944' first='Rhett' last='McGrew']. McGrew has the ideal size that you're looking for in a high school tight end at 6'3 225 and has shown the willingness to be physical in the running game. Although they primarily use him as a blocker, McGrew has caught a few touchdowns and has enough athleticism to flare out in the passing game or line up in the slot. Hurricane also lines him up out wide at times to block in the screen game so he can block in open space as well and not just attached to the line. McGrew added a lot of size and strength in the off-season which has paid dividends this season in his game with still one more year of high school left after this season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["908108"],"_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":"Quite possibly, the highest ceiling tight end prospect in West Virginia is Buckhannon-Upshur junior [player_tooltip player_id='908108' first='Carter' last='Zuliani']. I've said it once, and I'll say it again, the sky is the limit for the 6'5 220 for the 2025 prospect. Zuliani is a four-sport athlete at Buckhannon-Upshur and plays basketball, swims, and on the track u0026amp; field team along with football. I could see Zuliani playing tight end or defensive end at the next level, and he made one of our Big Man Standouts earlier this season at defensive line. He's just so long and athletic and has tangibles that you're simply either born with or you aren't. Zuliani is a future D1 football prospect if he wants to be and just an all-around natural athlete. BU doesn't throw the ball a ton but they'll line him up at wideout sometimes where he's plenty athletic enough to play. Their heavy running game has taught him the important blocking aspect of the tight end position though and Zuliani is playing with an edge and physicality.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["908109"],"_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":"West Virginia has two very promising 2025 tight end prospects with very similar builds and backgrounds. We just mentioned Buckhannon-Upshur's [player_tooltip player_id='908108' first='Carter' last='Zuliani'] and another junior tight end name to know is Philip Barbour's [player_tooltip player_id='908109' first='TD' last='Bodkins']. He's another 6'5 210 athletic basketball athlete that is developing as a football player with a high ceiling. Bodkins and Zuliani are nearly carbon copies of each other and are both very similar but impressive athletes. Bodkins is a fluid athlete and moves very well for his size. Philip Barbour will line him up at wide receiver too and have even moved him into the backfield and let him carry the ball. However, Bodkins has also shown the ability to be a physical blocker and not just a receiving tight end. He's also done some great things at defensive end and could play there at the next level too. I'm very excited to see how Bodkins and Zuliani develop in the next year and a half.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["908110"],"_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":"The 2025 tight end class in West Virginia is very exciting with Winfield's [player_tooltip player_id='908110' first='Toby' last='Laughery'] being the next one that has flashed great potential. The 6'4 210 junior is another very athletic and long athlete who has shown he is capable in the blocking and receiving aspect of the tight end position. Winfield runs a lot of option offense so Laughery has plenty of reps in the blocking game but they also like to get him involved in play-action and when the defense is lulled to sleep from the running game. Laughery is tasked with blocking much more often than running routes but that will really benefit him moving forward where tight ends are often glorified receivers these days and lack in the blocking part of the position. He has plenty of athleticism to be a threat in the passing game too so that will never be an issue with Laughery. If he can add another 30 pounds he'll be a complete tight end and a high-level one.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6515c2c9b860c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->