Underrated Tight Ends to watch this Fall

This an exciting group of multifaceted tight ends who can pave the way for ball carriers as lead blockers and create mismatches in the secondary. These 4 prospects have made significant impacts on their offense's success and will look to do the same this fall.    The rising sophomore out of Sandy Creek has a promising and productive future at the tight end position. The 6'4 2029 prospect can be utilized as an in-line tight end attached to the line of scrimmage, off the ball as a sniffer, and flexed out at receiver on the perimeter. He is a legitimate weapon in the pass game, as his big frame makes him a mismatch for DBs down field and has the athleticism to make defenders miss to gain yards after the catch. Once he hits the open field, his long stride really opens up and allows him to pull away from defenders. Love is an asset in the run game as well, he comes off the ball and maintains low pad level when down blocking, washing line of scrimmage players or scraping linebackers away from the point of attack. He also does an excellent job of turning out edge players on the front side of power. Love currently holds 4 FBS offers from NC State, Pitt, ECU, and Marshall.     Watson is a dynamic player at the tight end position who has the athleticism to play as a true receiver on the outside or be an impactful blocker in the box. He pairs speed that can stretch the field vertically with an impressive catch radius that helps him make tough, contested catches downfield. His length helps him to lock onto defenders and maintain blocks on the perimeter and when and turning out edge players at the point of attack. Watson currently holds offers from Kennesaw State and Clark Atlanta.     Smith is exactly who an offense wants at the point of attack in the run game, the frame of a lean offensive tackle with the mobility and athleticism to get involved in the pass game as well. When blocking, he delivers an initial strike that stuns defenders, upon this strike, he does an excellent job of running his feet to wash defenders down or root them out of the gap. His footwork helps him to block defenders in space or work up to linebackers at the second level to open up running lanes. He is an effective pass catcher as well, leaking into the flats or sitting in vertical holes in zone coverage to exploit over aggressive defenders. His size and athleticism make him dangerous with the ball in his hands, as many DBs will second guess taking on a 6'5, 220-pound tight end in the open field. Smith currently holds offers from two FCS programs including the Ivey League's Brown and Marist of the Pioneer Football League.     Guilford has the skillset and intangibles of an outside receiver; however, he can play with the physicality needed to reduce down to the line of scrimmage as an impact blocker in the run game. He is an excellent blocker on the perimeter due to his length and ability to play in space. His size and ability to pluck the ball out of the air make him a reliable target at each level of the secondary. He has long speed and size to stretch the defense vertically and win contested catches on downfield shots, but he also has the stop and start to snap off defenders on the short to intermediate routes and gain yards after the catch.

This an exciting group of multifaceted tight ends who can pave the way for ball carriers as lead blockers and create mismatches in the secondary. These 4 prospects have made significant impacts on their offense's success and will look to do the same this fall.