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<p>We're well into our 2026 rankings update, but if this is your first exposure to an exciting week, welcome from the Prep Redzone staff. We've reevaluated several prospects after seeing them in camp settings and caught up on a few players we missed in the last update immediately after the season. We have a loaded schedule of rankings pieces that started Monday with reports on the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/spring-stock-risers-2026-qb-report/">2026 quarterbacks</a>. Tuesday was about the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/spring-stock-risers-2026-rb-report/">running backs</a>. Wednesday, receivers. Now, we're looking at the tight ends.</p>
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<p>This rankings update, I'm doing things a bit differently. Rather than simply telling you which players moved up, I'm going behind-the-scenes to say <em>why</em> they jumped, whether it was a re-evaluation, a camp performance, or something else.</p>
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<p>Which tight ends rose in the rankings? Find out in our spring stock-risers 2026 TE Report.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 TE Stock-Risers</h2>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Ramirez flexes out wide a larger Z and big slot receiver more often than not for Cox Mill, and that shows as he's far more advanced as a pass-catcher than a blocker. But he's a willing blocker, and that's what colleges want from their tight ends. Ramirez played well in the fall but really rose in the spring, with a strong showing at the CFI Showcase in early May.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Few players are as hot this spring as Barber as the Mooresville tight end has picked up over a dozen D1 offers since late January. While FCS teams are vying for his services, we think he could end up at the Group of Five or even Power Four level. Finding big-bodied tight ends with production is difficult and Barber checks a lot of boxes.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Rucker is a really unique player to scout. More of a modern H-Back than a pure tight end, he's built like a receiver, but still plays in-line. He has excellent balance and ability after the catch and South Meck thrived by simply getting him the ball in space. It'd be easy to dismiss Rucker as a future slot receiver, but his skill set is so unique that a smart coaching staff could find a role that suits him at the college level.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">On an offense full of talent, Fiore can get lost, but he's the engine that makes the whole thing go. He doesn't get enough credit for his blocking abilities, and he's flashed as a down blocker and guy who can get to the second level. Fiore has the body and hands to thrive as a pass-catcher, even if the overall receiving stats are closer to good than great. After seeing him in practice this spring, I expect him to have a huge senior season.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Howerton has borderline freakish athleticism and yet thrived by often being forgotten over the middle of the field. He lived on pop passes and jump balls over the middle. He's athletic enough to flex out wide and has enough speed as a long-strider to break away when he finds space. He's an underrated blocker with long arms and good drive, but make no mistake, he's a modern athletic tight end. </p>
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We're well into our 2026 rankings update, but if this is your first exposure to an exciting week, welcome from the Prep Redzone staff. We've reevaluated several prospects after seeing them in camp settings and caught up on a few players we missed in the last update immediately after the season. We have a loaded schedule of rankings pieces that started Monday with reports on the 2026 quarterbacks. Tuesday was about the running backs. Wednesday, receivers. Now, we're looking at the tight ends.
This rankings update, I'm doing things a bit differently. Rather than simply telling you which players moved up, I'm going behind-the-scenes to say why they jumped, whether it was a re-evaluation, a camp performance, or something else.
Which tight ends rose in the rankings? Find out in our spring stock-risers 2026 TE Report.
Ramirez flexes out wide a larger Z and big slot receiver more often than not for Cox Mill, and that shows as he's far more advanced as a pass-catcher than a blocker. But he's a willing blocker, and that's what colleges want from their tight ends. Ramirez played well in the fall but really rose in the spring, with a strong showing at the CFI Showcase in early May.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Few players are as hot this spring as Barber as the Mooresville tight end has picked up over a dozen D1 offers since late January. While FCS teams are vying for his services, we think he could end up at the Group of Five or even Power Four level. Finding big-bodied tight ends with production is difficult and Barber checks a lot of boxes.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Rucker is a really unique player to scout. More of a modern H-Back than a pure tight end, he's built like a receiver, but still plays in-line. He has excellent balance and ability after the catch and South Meck thrived…
On an offense full of talent, Fiore can get lost, but he's the engine that makes the whole thing go. He doesn't get enough credit for his blocking abilities, and he's flashed as a down blocker and guy who can…
Howerton has borderline freakish athleticism and yet thrived by often being forgotten over the middle of the field. He lived on pop passes and jump balls over the middle. He's athletic enough to flex out wide and has enough speed…
