Breaking Down the 2025 Tight End Rankings 1-5
In this article:
Our 2025 class rankings are here! Thank you to our Regional Scout Vic Castillo for all the work he put in putting these rankings together. Stay tuned for our 2026 rankings that will be coming out next. In the meantime, Carl…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOur 2025 class rankings are here! Thank you to our Regional Scout Vic Castillo for all the work he put in putting these rankings together. Stay tuned for our 2026 rankings that will be coming out next. In the meantime, Carl Frederick and I will be providing coverage on our 2025 rankings.
I will be breaking down the fourteen Tight Ends who were ranked in addition to mentioning the seven who made our Watch List. In this article, I break down TEs 1-5 in our rankings as well as an honorable mention of two of our Ranked ATHs who play TE on offense
Watching Matt’s film will show you why he is our top ranked Tight End. He has very good height with an athletic build with room for muscle mass to be added. He is utilized more as a Wide Receiver in Powhatan’s offense and can run a full route tree on all levels of the field. His very good route running ability allows him to win against cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers. He can make contested catches and out jump defenders to highpoint balls. After the catch, he has elite elusiveness that allows him to weave through traffic to create extra yards. He has a 12-minute highlight film that you do not want to miss.
This is the third time I have mentioned Carson in an article, and I am not surprised by his ranking as the #2 Tight End for Virginia. Whereas Matt above is a receiving threat, Carson is your classic Tight End who is a threat as a run blocker and a receiver. He plays with good pad level and quickness, and he can block both defensive linemen and linebackers in Gap schemes. He can also reach block EDGE defenders in Zone blocking making him a valuable piece to any offense. He provides a quick target for his QB in the passing game with soft hands and the physical toughness to make contested catches. You also should not sleep on his defensive tape. Be sure to select his profile and see my previous features of Carson and a full evaluation.
JC is the best blocker of our ranked Tight Ends in my opinion, and he can also provide an alternative option in the passing game in Liberty Christian’s offense as well. He is a very good run blocker in both Gap and Run schemes showing good quickness out of his stance and very good explosiveness into his blocks with fluid hips to turn and drive defenders out of the gap. He shows good footwork angles that allow him to Reach block EDGE defenders and off-ball linebackers in Zone blocking schemes. His blocking is key to Liberty Christian’s offense and is someone to take notice of as they look to defend their state championship this fall.
Highlights
Lahman is a balanced Tight End who offers both receiving and blocking ability. You can align him tight to the formation or split out. He displays soft hands as a receiver with a basic route tree and the ability to create positive yards after the catch. His athleticism shows in the run game as he is utilized to get blocks at the second level to clear a path for the ball carrier.
Blake has solid height and good size and is our fifth ranked Tight End. He can be an all-around tight end offering solid run blocking and receiving ability. He displays solid athleticism with solid speed, foot quickness, and balance. He can be used in both run and pass blocking and runs a basic route tree, showing soft hands, and solid ability to create yards with his strength after the catch.
Rayne is the first honorable mention I want to promote. I covered him in a previous article and I am not surprised Vic has him as the 28th ATH in the state. He can run an entire route tree and can block. Be sure to check out my previous article on him which includes a full evaluation as a Tight End and EDGE defender. He is an All-State player that you you do not want to miss.
I have been high on D’rhon for a while, and he is my second honorable mention. He is physical and versatile as a Tight End who can line up tight, split out, and in the backfield. He fits that modern mold of Tight End many teams have started to utilize. But do not sleep on his linebacker film either. Be sure to view his profile and my previous article for a full evaluation of his tape.
Highlights
Click here to claim your Prep Redzone Prospect Index profile.
Follow me on Twitter @GoLions1934 for further content | @PrepRedzoneVA, and @PrepRedzone | Virginia Scout @carljfred | View my previous Prep Redzone articles here