Top Five Tight End Signees For 2010
May 27th, 2010 05:46 PM║ Posted By: Josh Ward ║ Permalink
Quarterbacks, running backs and defensive backs excite fans when they look at a team’s signing class.
Rarely do you hear a fan say, “Did you hear about the tight end we signed?” Yet it’s an important position, one the coaches make sure they have filled up on their depth chart.
Here’s a look at the top five tight end signees in the SEC for 2010.
1. Gerald Christian – Florida – He’s a reason many people believe Florida signed the top class in the country in 2010. Christian, who enrolled at Florida in the spring, will be asked to play immediately as the Gators look to replace Aaron Hernandez, who left early to enter April’s NFL draft. Christian will join Dwyer High School teammates Matt Elam and Robert Clark in Gainesville. Christian (6-3, 220) is built like a linebacker with the skills to play tight end. Christian has the potential to be a high draft pick in the NFL. He should be fun to watch.
2. Travis Dickson – LSU – The son of a former a Mississippi State Bulldog and younger brother of a former LSU tight end, Travis Dickson was a coveted signee for LSU in February. The 6-3, 235-pound Dickson from Ocean Springs (Miss.) High School is a versatile prospect who some believe could be an effective defensive end at the college level. His skills make him a perfect fit in a fullback/tight end role because of his ability to block and catch the football. Dickson has also received rave reviews for his work ethic in high school. Dickson will be a major factor in LSU’s future.
3. Brian Vogler – Alabama – Vogler should be quite a weapon for Alabama. The 6-6, 245-pounder has plenty of size and should be a nice red zone target in the Crimson Tide’s offense. Vogler, who was recruited by several colleges to play basketball, has great athleticism for his size and room to grow at the college level. He’s been described as a “nasty” blocker, which fans love in the SEC. He’s not going to remind fans of Hernandez or Antonio Gates, but Vogler will be a solid tight end who can catch and block for Alabama.
4. Alex Smith – Kentucky – The Wildcats are lucky to have Smith after he originally committed to Cincinnati and North Carolina. Smith also considered schools such as Tennessee, Wisconsin and Cincinnati. Smith (6-5, 225) is an athletic tight end who still has room to grow to become a better blocker in the SEC. Kentucky focused on the tight end position in 2010 because of the Wildcats’ need to strengthen the position. Smith has All-SEC potential for Kentucky.
5. Harrison Jones – Alabama – This is another reason why Nick Saban continues to have success in the SEC. Jones, whose older brother Barrett Jones is a starting offensive lineman for the Tide, should grow into a solid contributor for Alabama. Harrison Jones (6-4, 225) needs to add weight, but he should be a solid pass-catching compliment to Vogler in Alabama’s offense. Jones is probably more of a project than Vogler, but Jones has good speed for a tight end and should be a nice offensive weapon in the future. He won’t be asked to do much as a true freshman, but look for Jones’ name starting in 2011.
[...] Quarterbacks, Running Backs and Wide Receivers. Those are the offensive positions that most help a school’s “star rankings” when it comes to the recruiting services.Land a high-profile passer, for example, and a coach will see his team shoot up the recruiting rankings and post-signing day lists.But as Josh Ward continues his look at the SEC’s top incoming freshmen, he turns his attention to those guys who do the dirty work. The guys who can quickly become a quarterback’s security blanket… or an offensive tackle’s new best friend: the tight ends.Each week, Josh combs through all of the SEC’s signees at a position and then picks out the five who are most likely to have an impact as newcomers this fall. For his views on the best freshman tight ends, click right here. [...]
[...] 3. Brian Vogler – Alabama – Vogler should be quite a weapon for Alabama. The 6-6, 245-pounder has plenty of size and should be a nice red zone target in the Crimson Tide’s offense. Vogler, who was recruited by several colleges to play basketball, has great athleticism for his size and room to grow at the college level. He’s been described as a “nasty” blocker, which fans love in the SEC. 5. Harrison Jones – Alabama – This is another reason why Nick Saban continues to have success in the SEC. Jones, whose older brother Barrett Jones is a starting offensive lineman for the Tide, should grow into a solid contributor for Alabama. Harrison Jones (6-4, 225) needs to add weight, but he should be a solid pass-catching compliment to Vogler in Alabama’s offense. Jones is probably more of a project than Vogler, but Jones has good speed for a tight end and should be a nice offensive weapon in the future. [More] [...]