2019 College Football Preseason Rankings – Top 5 Tight Ends: The tight end position might be the most overlooked among all the offensive skill positions, but a great tight end can be a matchup nightmare for defenses and a security blanket for a quarterback. With spread offenses all the rage these days, it can be tough for a tight end to get some love, but the great ones still find a way to make an impact.
With the 2019 College Football season right around the corner, it is time to take a closer look at the best tight ends in the country. Not only are these players the frontrunners for the John Mackey Award, but they could also be X-factors that end up being the difference in a game or two over the course of the year.
2019 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 5 Tight Ends
1. Colby Parkinson, Stanford Cardinal
Stanford has produced some excellent tight ends over the years, and Parkinson is poised to be the next in line. His athleticism allows him to stretch the field and run a variety routes that most players at the position can’t manage, but Parkinson can also go up and get in around the goal line. He scored seven times last year, and he is set for an even bigger role in the passing game this year. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Parkinson reach double-digit scores in 2019, and he is going to be one of the go-to targets for Stanford’s passing attack.
2. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri Tigers
While he hasn’t delivered as many big plays down the field as some other tight end prospects, Okwuegbunam does the dirty work in the trenches and in the red zone. He has found the end zone 17 times in his first two seasons, and he did that while missing four games with a shoulder injury. His red zone prowess is obvious, but Okwuegbunam also makes tough catches in traffic to move the chains. He is a big-bodied, sure-handed physical player and a quarterback’s best friend.
3. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt Commodores
Able to hold his own as a blocker and one of the most well-rounded receivers at his position, Pinkney is poised for a monster 2019 season. He finished last year with 50 catches for 770 yards and seven scores, ranking in the top three nationally in all three categories and leading all tight ends in receiving yards. Pinkney has the size and speed to pressure defenses down the seam, but he can also turn underneath routes into bigger plays. The fact that he puts up big numbers while playing in the SEC solidifies his status as one of the best tight ends in the country.
4. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic Owls
Playing for Florida Atlantic causes him to get overlooked, but Bryant is one of the most complete tight ends in the country. He has the size and strength to thrive as an in-line tight end, but he also has more than enough athleticism to split out wide to create mismatches. Bryant finished with 659 receiving yards last year, and he averaged an impressive 14.7 yards per catch. There aren’t many tight ends in the country that defenses have to focus on when preparing for an opponent, but Bryant is definitely on that list.
5. Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma Sooners
There are better pro prospects at the position, but Calcaterra is built for the college game and built for Oklahoma’s offense. He doesn’t have the size to be a dominant blocker, but he does have the speed and athleticism to run wild in the middle of the field. He is also the reliable safety valve for an offense that loves to take shots down the field. Calcaterra hauled in six touchdowns last year, and his role in the offense should only grow in his junior season.
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