Introducing the CFB Saturdays College Football TE Rankings

Over the next few weeks we will be unveiling our College Football player rankings by position. Today we will take a look at our College Football TE rankings. A few notes before we discuss the rankings themselves.

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the college football TE rankings here.

Strong Group at the Top

Kyle Pitts (Florida) is number 1 on our list. He had a phenomenal sophomore season in which he totaled 649 receiving yards and 5 TDs. He is a wonderful athlete who moves more like a big wide receiver than a tight end. He is an excellent leaper who high points the ball well. He can make defenders miss in space and makes game changing plays with regularity. Pitts has excellent length to go with his athleticism making him an ideal option in the modern passing game. Pitts could stand to improve his blocking but there is time for him to develop as a blocker. Pitts is a dangerous weapon for the Gators and will be a top option for QB Kyle Trask (#8 QB).

Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar checks in at 2nd in our rankings. Kolar looks how you want a TE to look, he is 6’6″ and 252 lbs. He uses his frame well and protects the ball from defenders providing a nice target for QB Brock Purdy (#10 QB). Kolar high points the ball well and makes difficult catches with ease. He has very nimble feet and excellent balance making him difficult to cover. He runs well and is threat downfield in the passing game. Kolar is an effective blocker and uses his size well to neutralize defenders. Kolar finished 2019 with 697 receiving yards and 7 TDs in his sophomore season, we expect more of the same in 2020.

The 3rd spot in the rankings belongs to Pat Friermuth (Penn State). The standout TE had 507 receiving yards and 7 TDs in 2019. Friermuth is a Quarterback’s dream, he catches everything thrown his way. He is 6’5″ and 256 lbs with an incredible catch radius. He adjusts to the ball with ease making the most of his opportunities. Friermuth runs well and creates good separation against linebackers and overpowers defensive backs. Even in contested catch situations he has the strength to fight off defenders and the body control to adjust to the ball. He is an effective blocker and an asset in the run game as well as the passing game. Friermuth will be an elite option in the Nittany Lions passing game once again.

Holding the 4th spot is Miami TE Brevin Jordan. Jordan does not have the length and frame of the 1st three players on this list, but he is an incredible athlete. He creates mismatches with his speed and strength and is difficult to tackle after the catch. Jordan moves like a wide receiver but has a strong thick build, he uses both that speed and strength to get free in the secondary. He is a willing blocker and has been effective in this regard despite not being a big TE. Jordan had 495 receiving yards and 2 TDs in 2019 despite the revolving door at quarterback for the Hurricanes in 2019. In 2020 D’Eriq King (#4 QB) will provide some stability at the QB position allowing Jordan to unlock his full potential.

Difference Makers Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Peyton Hendershot (5) of Indiana had an ultra productive season in 2019. He is a stocky 6’4″ and 255 lbs and uses that size with his above average athleticism to create mismatches in the passing game. In 2019 he totaled 622 receiving yards and 4 TDs. He uses his body to create a good target for his QB and catches the ball well when it is thrown to him. He is a load to bring down and finds tough yards after the catch. Hendershot almost didn’t make this list due to a suspension in January, but he appears to be on the way back. If he plays in 2020 we expect Hendershot to have another strong season for the Hoosiers.

6th ranked Jalen Wydermyer of Texas A&M is a big bodied TE at 6’5″ 260 lbs. As a freshman in 2019 he accumulated 447 yards receiving and 6 TDs. He provided a big target over the middle of the field and made tough grabs in traffic while being hit. He is an ideal security blanket for a QB with his wide frame and ability to protect the ball. Wydermyer moves well for a player his size and is able to get downfield for chunk plays. He is good at catching the ball away from his body and using his size to win jump balls against smaller defenders. There is room for improvement as a run blocker but that will come with experience. With his size and physicality Wydermyer should become a complete TE and be a major asset for the Aggies in 2020.

#7 ranked Kylen Granson of SMU is a former wide receiver who bulked up to play TE at SMU. Watching Granson play it is obvious that he is more of a receiver than a blocker. He does not have the frame or size the players above him on this list have, but he was incredibly effective in the Mustangs offense. He runs good routes and is a speed mismatch for most linebackers. Granson was as productive as any TE in the country racking up 721 receiving yards and 9 TDs in 2019. He may not be the biggest player but he does block with effort although his smaller stature limits his effectiveness in this regard. It remains to be seen if Granson can get bigger and maintain his athleticism. We still expect Granson to be a very good option in the high powered SMU offense.

Jake Ferguson of Wisconsin is ranked 9th in the College Football Tight End Rankings. After his freshman season in 2018 we actually expected him to be higher on this list but Ferguson’s production did not improve in 2019. Some of this can be attributed to the thumb injury he suffered in fall camp and some to the dominance of running back Jonathan Taylor is 2019. Ferguson still had 407 receiving yards and 2 TDs. Ferguson is a good receiver who has a knack for finding space in the defense and catches the ball well. He is advanced as a receiver and made progress as a run blocker in 2019 as well. With a healthy offseason look for Ferguson to take the next step and become an even bigger part of the Wisconsin offense in 2020.

Utah‘s Brant Kuithe finds himself at number 10. He was a versatile player for the Utes in 2019 leading the team with 602 receiving yards and 6 TDs while also adding 102 yards rushing and 3 TDs on the ground. Similar to Granson, Kuithe does not have ideal size for the TE position, but he is an impressive athlete. He makes defenders miss in the open field and uses his speed well to get open down field. He is listed at 6’2″ 235 lbs but is well built and probably will not add much more weight to his frame. His versatility and athleticism make him dangerous, and we expect him to continue to produce in 2020.

Three Who Could Take the Next Step

Tre McKitty transferred to Georgia and is an intriguing prospect who we placed at 13th in the TE rankings. He is an excellent athlete but could not find consistency in his time at Florida State. His physical traits are impressive and should be able to tap into his potential with better talent around him at Georgia. McKitty has shown flashes of his playmaking ability but has been unable to put together a consistent season. McKitty is a grad transfer and will be eligible this fall and has a golden opportunity in 2020.

Ohio State‘s Jeremy Ruckert (18) has all the physical tools you could want in a TE. He has shown flashes of brilliance and had 4 TDs in 2019, but the Buckeyes rarely feature the position in the passing game. Ruckert is big, fast and has excellent ball skills. When given the opportunity Ruckert has performed, including a wonderful one handed TD catch against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Title game. His blocking remains a work in progress but he made improvement from his freshman season to his sophomore season. If the Buckeyes were ever going to try to get the tight end the ball, this would be the guy to do it with. If the Buckeyes decide to throw to him, Ruckert will have a big 2020.

#23 on the list is Xavier Gaines of Marshall who is a listed as a TE but is as versatile as they come. In 2019 Gaines had 306 receiving yards and 3 TDs, 181 rushing yards with 2 more TDs and even completed a pass for 33 yards. Gaines is not a traditional TE, he is more of a hybrid player who lines up at QB, RB, TE and in the slot. Gaines is a great athlete who can make an impact in many ways. He is definitely a new age TE but has the potential to be a major player in 2020.

Click here to see the Top 25 TE Rankings.

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