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NFL Draft: 4 tight ends to watch in Week 1 of the CFB season

By Dan Matney

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Jared Pinkney #80 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs the ball during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Jared Pinkney #80 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs the ball during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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BOCA RATON, FL – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Lane Kiffin raises his arms as Harrison Bryant #40 of the Florida Atlantic Owls runs with the ball down the sideline against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on September 30, 2017 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FL – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Lane Kiffin raises his arms as Harrison Bryant #40 of the Florida Atlantic Owls runs with the ball down the sideline against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on September 30, 2017 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic

Bryant is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior that fits the mold of a traditional blocking tight end coming out of Florida Atlantic.

He has average long speed for the position and lacks explosiveness, but he’s a fluid enough athlete to compete at the NFL level. Bryant is balanced and has good functional strength. He has solid lateral quickness but he isn’t the type to make guys miss in space.

Bryant is a physical blocker that thrives in one-on-one situations at the point-of-attack. He fires off the ball low and has his hands ready to engage. He’s accurate with his punch and flashes the ability to generate push on the play side.

He’s smart and is always looking for work. Bryant is effective working combo blocks to the 2nd level and he can effectively seal lanes when he gets there.

He’s effective helping in pass protection and has value as a TE2 that can stay home to protect the passer.

Bryant has soft hands as a pass-catcher and projects as more of a check down player in the underneath. He’s not the most fluid or quick route runner and he’s limited when he has the ball in his hands.

The most intriguing thing is to see how Bryant contributes in the passing game on Saturday. Last year against Oklahoma he was impressive as a blocker and did so at a high level the entire season. For as well as he played, he wasn’t much of a threat in the passing game and struggled to get separation downfield against a higher level of competition.

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Ohio State is going to key in on Bryant when he isn’t staying home in pass protection. The quickness he’ll see in coverage is going to be a huge gauge to see how well he can create for himself. Expect to see a lot of delayed releases and production in the underneath passing game.

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