’26 Rankings Update: The Tight End Film Room

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Film is one of the best tools to self-scout, evaluate, and improve. As is the case with any rankings update, we want to celebrate and highlight select prospects who had some&nbsp;<em>really&nbsp;</em>nice film and talk about their game. That said kill the lights, close the blinds, and turn the projector on and join me, as we prepare to enter the film room to discuss what I saw on film.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1546831"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68261517b1abc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hailing from, in all likelihood, Marlton, [player_tooltip player_id='1546831' first='Connor' last='Hepperlen'] is a very good tight end prospect out of Lenape. When split out we see Hepperlen run his routes hard and compact, where he also showcases blocking physicality. These tight-yet-powerful movements allow him to win jump balls in traffic. Additionally, Hepperlen has the tag of being versatile under his belt, as he is also used as a sniffer out of the backfield in short motion; where other times he is used as a wing and brings a genuine effort to block. He has ball skills and grace, winning the tip drill, while also being strong enough where more than one defender are required to take him down. When catching the ball, Hepperlen uses his hands - in fact, I do not recall seeing him use his body to haul in any catches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18197191/6733d453c919fbbfde4d1126' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68261517b1c83"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1515075"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68261517b1cec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The recent tradition of solid prospects out of New Providence carries on with [player_tooltip player_id='1515075' first='James' last='Keneally']. When catching the ball, we see this 6'3" 230 pound prospect use his hands extremely well; whereas this same frame makes him tough to bring down. When he gets a free release to the outside, Keneally does an excellent job of sealing the second level. What I might appreciate most about his blocking ability is how his feet never stop. At times Keneally will split out as a receiver to exploit a matchup. Although Keneally does a very nice job of playing defensive end, I happen to prefer him at tight end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18168916/6743a8451f08c0145fbf467c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68261517b1d13"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2026 Rankings Update Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-i"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-i"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-i">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-ii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-iii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-iv">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part IV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-v">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part V</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-vi">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part VI</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-vii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part VII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-viii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part VIII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-ix">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part IX</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-x">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part X</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xi">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XI</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xiii">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XIII</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xiv">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XIV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-film-evals-for-new-additions-part-xv">Ranking Evaluation Scouting Notes, Part XV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-athlete-film-room-part-i">Athlete Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-back-film-room-part-i">Defensive Back Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-back-film-room-part-ii">Defensive Back Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-line-film-room-part-i">Defensive Line Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-line-film-room-part-ii">Defensive Line Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-defensive-line-film-room-part-iii">Defensive Line Film Room, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-the-linebacker-film-room-part-i">Linebacker Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-linebacker-film-room-part-ii">Linebacker Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-offensive-line-film-room-part-i">Offensive Line Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-the-quarterback-film-room-part-i">Quarterback Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-quarterback-film-room-part-ii">Quarterback Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-running-back-film-room-part-i">Running Back Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-running-back-film-room-part-iii/">Running Back Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-special-teams-film-room">Special Teams Film Room</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-tight-end-film-room">Tight End Film Room</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-the-wide-receiver-film-room-part-i">Wide Receiver Film Room, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-the-wide-receiver-film-room-part-ii">Wide Receiver Film Room, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-shake-up-within-the-top-150-ranked-part-i">Biggest Rankings Jump, Ranked Prospects, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-shake-up-within-the-top-150-ranked-part-ii">Biggest Rankings Jump, Ranked Prospects, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/26-rankings-update-watchlist-prospects-that-entered-the-top-25">Watchlist Prospects that Entered the Top 25</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-watchlist-prospects-that-entered-the-top-75">Watchlist Prospects that Entered the Top 75</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-watchlist-prospects-that-entered-the-top-150">Watchlist Prospects that Entered the Top 150</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/26-rankings-update-watchlist-prospects-that-entered-the-top-250">Watchlist Prospects that Entered the Top 250</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->