New Names: 5 Impressive Rising Senior TEs
The TE position is one of the more interesting positions to evaluate. It seems that each individual prospect has something different to offer colleges. Some are better as blockers, some are better as receivers, and a select few will tie…
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Continue ReadingThe TE position is one of the more interesting positions to evaluate. It seems that each individual prospect has something different to offer colleges. Some are better as blockers, some are better as receivers, and a select few will tie both of those things together and can break the game. As I continue my search for some new names in Georgia to evaluate, I stumbled upon 5 TEs that impressed me upon my first watch.
Jack Thexton
Jack Thexton
Thexton is a unique prospect with the ability to play at multiple spots. He has the look of an HB, coming in at 6’1 225. He also takes plenty of reps attached to the line as a traditional TE, lined up on defense as a LB, and will even take direct snaps in a wildcat type role. He is a physical, downhill football player who is tough to handle in tight spots of the field with the ball in his hands. You could imagine that he can move the pile as a blocker too. For a stockier player without prototype length, he does a good job of tracking the ball in the air and making catches in a crowd. He showcases some explosiveness in his routes, shooting across the field and up the seam with ease. On defense, he flashes even more physicality and shows some long speed when he gets to chase after the football. Thexton was all over the field as a junior and should play a similar role as a senior.
Ethan Gurela
Ethan Gurela
This is my first time taking an advanced look at Ethan Gurela, but he immediately jumps off the tape for me and is one of the better TEs I have evaluated in GA for the 2025 class. He is listed at 6’3 220 with an athletic build, looking more like a WR than a TE. He is twitchier and has more long speed than your typical TE prospect, which allows him to quickly get by defenders and find open spots on the field. He is explosive and can play above the rim, backed up by over 20 yards a reception last season. He is more than willing as a blocker and packs quite a punch for a thinner guy. When attached to the line, he plays with a good base and hand placement, striking defenders in the chest and working momentum through his lower body to end plays on the dirt. He also isn’t afraid to chip and impact block. There is a lot to like about his game. He is a mismatch threat when split out wide and is a competitive blocker. Two things which should land him on the D1 radar.
Ethan Montenegro
Ethan Montenegro
Montenegro was one of the more productive junior TEs in Georgia last year and should gain attention for his efforts. He is listed at 6’2 225 and is well filled-out at this stage of his development. He spends plenty of time split out wide, but is strong and broad enough to play attached to the line. You wouldn’t tell by looking at him, but he is quick off the snap and has some giddy-up to his game in space. He is often sent down the middle of the defense and does a good job of remaining in stride after the catch. Montenegro isn’t super mechanical with his footwork, but he runs crisp, on-time routes and does a good job of sneaking into soft zones in the defense. You might find more athletic TEs, but Montenegro is a consistent pass catcher with a higher floor than some of his peers. There are plenty of small schools who should take a look.
Brand Morgan
Brand Morgan
Brand Morgan is a projectable athlete at the TE spot that jumps off the tape. He comes in at a lean 6’3 215 and is a better athlete than almost any TE prospect you will find in Georgia. He is best split out in the slot, where he can offer a mismatch opportunity while navigating through soft areas of the defense. He showcases good twitch and stop/start ability in his routes, which allows him to create deception and work route concepts back towards the QBs. After the catch, he can really break the game. He possesses the speed to outrun some of the fastest defenders on the field and can confidently weave in and out of running lanes to create his own yards. As a blocker, Morgan will improve with added weight, but he isn’t afraid to get physical. Morgan is everything the TE position is starting to become. We are starting to see TE’s at the next level get the ball on screens, sweeps, and even return kicks. Morgan is a good enough athlete to do those things at the FBS level and has instantly become one of my favorite evals in the 2025 cycle.
Draco Frazzitta
Draco Frazzitta
Frazzitta is a massive TE prospect with plenty of upside as an in-line blocker. At a stout 6’6 230, he is essentially an extension of the offensive line when he lines up on the line of scrimmage. He can collapse running lanes and wash defenders down the line, showcasing plenty of drive and horsepower as a blocker. He can also quickly climb to the second level and hunt for smaller defenders to get his hands on. He has a lot to offer as a receiver as well, while most of his production comes from leaking out into the flat or open space over the middle of the field. Still, he is a bowling ball after the catch and will require plenty of effort from defenders to bring him down. On his tape, he also flashes the ability to pluck the ball away from his body and use his large frame to shield off scrappy DBs from his catch pocket. Frazzitta should garner plenty of attention during this 2025 cycle from FBS schools.