TE Rankings: A Closer Look At #1 TE Charlie Kolar

With the off-season upon us we will be removing the players that have moved on to the NFL from our player rankings and re-ranking for the 2021 season. Before we jump into Charlie Kolar being ranked number one, here’s a few reminders about 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.

Iowa State tight end, Charlie Kolar holds the top spot in our rankings to start the 2021 season after finishing the 2020 season in the third spot. Kolar was near the top of the list all of last year as well and with three of the top four players from 2020 moving on to the NFL this was a fairly easy decision. When Kolar announced his decision to return to Iowa State for the 2021 season it was an immediate boost for the offense next season. He has been excellent the last two seasons and should have a big finale in store for 2021.

Consistently Excellent

As a true freshman, Charlie Kolar did not have a big role in the Cyclones offense, but he showed flashes of his ability through out the season. He had three productive games sprinkled across the season but was a big play threat during those games. He finished they year with 11 catches for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2018, Kolar laid the foundation for what would be an excellent two season stretch in 2019 and 2020.

In 2019, Kolar became a key cog in the Iowa State offense. He was a consistent threat all season long and flashed plenty of big play ability. Kolar had multiple catches in 11 of 13 games and proved to be a reliable threat in the passing game. He turned in a strong sophomore season, finishing with 51 catches for 697 yards and 7 touchdowns for the season.

Kolar missed the start of the 2020 season, but did not take too long to get in the swing of things. He had multiple catches in every game he played. Kolar played a key role in Iowa State’s big win at Texas late in the year, when he caught 6 passes for 131 yards, including 5 catches for 115 yards in the last four drives of the game. Kolar was stellar for the second straight season, tallying 44 catches for 591 yards and 7 touchdowns in ten games.

Kolar’s Skill Set

Charlie Kolar is a prototypical tight end at 6’6″ 257 lbs. He has a big frame that makes an easy target for his quarterback. He is able to shield off defenders and make plays in contested catch situations. Kolar has a tremendous catch radius and has the body control to adjust to the football and make tough catches for his quarterback.

His size and power translate in the running games as well. Kolar is a good blocker who is able to handle perimeter defenders in the run game. He has the length to handle quicker defenders and has enough power to drive defenders out of the hole. He is an asset for running back Breece Hall as a blocker.

The size and physical play are great, but Kolar is a nimble athlete with the balance, change of direction skills and speed to be a big play threat in the passing game. He is able to stretch the seams in the passing game and is a mismatch for defenders downfield in jump ball situations. He runs clean routes and creates separation and is able to pick up yardage after the catch. Kolar has all the tools to be a big threat in the passing game from the tight end spot, or even when he is flexed out wide.

Charlie Kolar’s combination of size, athleticism and football savvy make him a tough match-up for defenses. He is an excellent safety valve for his quarterback in the middle of the field. He can beat defenders quickly and make tough plays to help move the chains or he can get downfield and stretch the defense. Kolar is an effective blocker, who is an asset in the running game as well. A good tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, Kolar is about as good as you could ask for.

Expecting A Big Senior Season

Iowa State has plenty of talent returning in 2021. The Cyclones bring back Kolar, quarterback Brock Purdy, star running back Breece Hall and leading receiver Xavier Hutchinson. With this much firepower returning, the Iowa State offense should be difficult to defend, forcing defenses to pick their poison every week. Kolar will have plenty of opportunities to make big plays and improve on his impressive resume.

Charlie Kolar has already established himself as the best tight end in college football. He has been a key part of the program’s unprecedented success in 2020 and will look to build on that next year. Matt Campbell has signed an extension to stay at Iowa State and many of the teams best players elected to come back to school rather than enter the NFL Draft. With Kolar and his talented teammates back to lead the way, 2021 should be a historic season in Ames.

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ISU vs. OSU 2019-10-26 image taken by Daniel Hartwig is licensed under CC BY 2.0.