After back to back years of top-flight tight ends coming and going, we are in a year where tight ends are very scarce in CFF. Guys like Jaylen Samuels, Mark Andrews, Jace Sternberger, and Caleb Wilson are gone and now we look to future names who can make a splash. A gift from me to you, the top ten returning tight ends for the 2019 season.
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Top Returning TEs for 2019 CFF
10. Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin
Although tight end wasn’t a point of focus last season for the Badgers, they’ve emphasized it in the past. Troy Fumagalli being the most recent example of what Wisconsin can do with a tight end. Jake Ferguson finished as the second leading receiver for the Badgers a season ago and could see a huge bump in his numbers if Graham Mertz is as good as advertised. Expect a big boom or bust for the Sophomore in 2019.
9. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
Hopkins saw a respectable year in 2018 with 34 receptions and 583 yards as the third most productive Boilermaker receiver. His issues scoring touchdowns last season could continue as Purdue only adds more receiving talent to compliment Rondale Moore. But given that he held a role in the 2018 offense, it’s hard to see Brohm passing away from Hopkins for someone other than Moore on third downs.
8. Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma
So… Calcaterra was a big swing and a miss last season. Although he caught six touchdown passes, Calcaterra was entrenched in the shadows of CeeDee Lamb and Hollywood Brown. Despite a big change in quarterback, Calcaterra could see a bump given the change.
Jalen Hurts may not have been a big tight end user in his second season, but he helped OJ Howard surpass 500 yards on 45 receptions in Hurts’ senior season. Maybe Hurts wouldn’t mind having a talented receiving tight end to use again.
7. Seth Green, Minnesota
Although listed as a tight end, Seth Green was used often as a wildcat quarterback for the Gophers in the red zone. He caught two passes but rushed 76 times for 282 yards for a whopping eight touchdowns. Considering Minnesota still has Tanner Morgan and Zach Annexstad at quarterback.
6. Harrison Bryant, FAU
I’m not surer how he did it but Harrison Bryant capped off 2018 with 662 yards and 45 receptions at FAU. Bryant could see an influx of receptions this season with the departure of Jovon Durante and the return of quarterback Chris Robison.
5. Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
Although I’m not entirely sure how his name is pronounced, Pat Freiermuth finished up as the leading red zone threat with eight touchdowns. Freiermuth’s production picked up most at the end of the season when Tommy Stevens was seeing time in the absence of an injured Trace McSorley and could be the next big Penn State Tight End after such a stellar freshman season.
4. Cheyenne O’Grady, Arkansas
Chad Morris at SMU didn’t necessarily emphasize the tight end spot, but his offenses at Clemson featured both Dwayne Allen and Brandon Ford frequently. Cheyenne O’Grady caught 30 passes for 400 yards and six touchdowns and the departure of La’Michael Pettway and the additions of Ben Hicks and Nick Starkel could open the door for more production in 2019 for the Senior.
3. Colby Parkinson, Stanford
Remember on the CFF: On Campus Podcast when I said that the wrong Stanford tight end was a Mackey finalist? Well, you can blame Colby Parkinson’s 485 yards and seven touchdowns for that. With JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Kaden Smith out of the picture, Colby Parkinson will hold a featured role in the Cardinal offense this season as they look to win the Pac-12 North.
2. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is never going to be the pinnacle of passing attacks but Jared Pinkney doesn’t care. Pinkney finished up his Junior year with 50 receptions for 774 yards and seven scores as the No. 2 receiving option for the ‘Dores. He loses quarterback Kyle Shurmur but should still see accurate passing from Ball State-transfer Riley Neal who has 7,393 yards to his name as a three-year starter at Ball State.
1. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
Albert O didn’t have the season we had all imagined last year but he is a lot healthier and gets a veteran quarterback in Kelly Bryant throwing to him. Although Bryant’s strengths are mostly grounded, Okwuegbunam returns as Missouri’s second-best receiving target after the departure of Emanuel Hall.
Also check out the top returning Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers.
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