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2020 NFL Draft: Jake Ferguson sits atop preseason TE rankings

By Jacob Harrison

MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 03: Jake Ferguson #84 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball while being chased by Damon Hayes #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 03: Jake Ferguson #84 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball while being chased by Damon Hayes #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Colby Parkinson #84 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a touchdown pass over Greg Johnson #9 of the USC Trojans in the second quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Colby Parkinson #84 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a touchdown pass over Greg Johnson #9 of the USC Trojans in the second quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Colby Parkinson has every reason to skyrocket up draft boards after his upcoming junior season. First and foremost, he’s the most experienced receiving option returning for quarterback K.J. Costello, and with Kaden Smith in the NFL, he could see more time in a more traditional TE role.

There’s no question Parkinson will see more targets as a receiver in 2019, but his blocking will be under a bit more scrutiny this season. Parkinson is a towering  6’7″ tall with a sturdy 240-pound frame which gives him an advantage in many blocking situations. However, he wasn’t often called upon to be the in-line blocker. That role went to Smith. Parkinson is quite valuable as a slot TE, but he isn’t a one-trick pony that is incapable of blocking and therefore, he could see more opportunities to show what he’s capable of.

For all of Parkinson’s ability as a receiver, he wasn’t targeted as much with Smith and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside deserving of touches. Parkinson had just 29 catches in 2018. But he has playmaking ability averaging 16.7 yards per catch and 7 touchdowns. Did I mention he’s 6’7″? Because defenders are reminded of it in the endzone a lot. He uses his body as a weapon to snag jump balls away from hopeless defenders.

https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/1061460466596143104

What’s more, he runs clean routes and is a pain for defenses down the seam.

Provided he stays healthy with the extra workload, Parkinson won’t have any trouble creating buzz for himself in 2019. Expect a big year and a monstrous rise from this prospect.

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