Brayden is the only tight end on our list, but he definitely deserves to be #2 overall in this ranking of receivers and tight ends in Western North Carolina. Brayden has great size at 6’5 and 240 pounds, and he’s already showing that he’s a 3-down tight end. I like him as an in-line blocker; he really does his best work on down blocks against EDGE players, driving his feet well on contact until the echo of the whistle. As a pass receiver, he doesn’t have a large set of routes – mainly by the design of his team’s offense- but he shows he can run away from linebackers in coverage, and he makes the most of the catches he does get, with some nice run-after-the-catch ability. Brayden has an offer from Miami of Ohio and some Power 4 recruiting interest. Expect that to increase, especially if he makes some good impressions during the upcoming camp season.

Despite his size, Crain can really move, and his top-end speed is much better than you’d expect from a guy with his build. He was fantastic as a safety blanket for state-title-winning Brevard, but his athletic profile and short-area quickness suggest he could have some untapped route-running upside. In a thinner tight end class that is even thinner when it comes to elite size, Crain is an outlier.

Crain put up a huge performance at the Carolinas Coaches’ Combine, jumping over 31 inches and posting a sub-5 40. He has great size and is an explosive athlete. He has the ability to play both tight end and edge rusher and we’re excited to see how he continues to develop.