CFN 2019 Preseason All-America Team: Tight Ends

2019 CFN Preseason All-America Tight Ends

Who are the best tight ends coming into the 2019 college football season? Based on projections for this year – and not necessarily based on pro talent and potential ….

Honorable Mention All-Americans

30. Shaun Beyer, Jr. Iowa

Who gets to fill in and take over the production with TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant gone? It’s a projection considering he has yet to catch a pass, but the 6-5, 244-pound Beyer is a big wide receiver who’ll combine with Nate Wieting to be big targets for Nate Stanley.
– 2019 Iowa Preview

29. Cole Tucker, Sr. North Carolina

He’s built more like a fullback at 6-2 and 255 pounds, but he’s built to hit a little bit and can catch a bit, too, averaging close to 17 yards per grab with 16 catches for 265 yards and two scores last year.
– 2019 North Carolina Preview

28. Charlie Woerner, Sr. Georgia

With a baby-young receiving corps, and with Isaac Nauta off to the NFL, it’ll be up to the 6-5, 245-pound Woerner to be one of Jake Fromm’s top targets early on. Woerner caught 11 passes for 148 yards and has 25 career catches – and no scores.
– 2019 Ole Miss Preview

27. Luke Farrell, Jr. Ohio State

With a slew of top wideouts gone, watch out for the 6-6, 250-pounder to become a bigger part of the attack. The pass catching skills are there, but he has to stretch the field more after catching 20 passes for 205 yards and a score.
– 2019 Ohio State Preview

26. Armani Levias, Sr. Marshall

The 6-4, 247-pound former JUCO transfer turned into a nice target right away in the Herd offense, catching 25 passes for 327 yards and three scores. He’s a great athlete who can do a whole lot more.
– 2019 Marshall Preview

25. Devin Asiasi, Jr. UCLA

Caleb Wilson might have been the star tight end for the attack, but he’s gone, and the 6-5, 250-pound former Michigan Wolverine should be able to pick up the slack. Asiasi caught just six passes, but he averaged close to 22 yards per grab with a score.
– 2019 UCLA Preview

24. Tre McKitty, Jr. Florida State

The talent is there to blow up into a dangerous playmaker for an offense that needs more of them. The 6-5, 245-pound receiver only averaged 9.85 yards per grab, but he caught 26 passes for 256 yards and two scores.
– 2019 Florida State Preview

23. Kiel Pollard, Sr. South Carolina

Built like a running back, the 6-1, 232-pounder has made a bigger impact on special teams than for the passing game, but he caught 15 passes for 181 yards and two scores and is now going to be the main man at tight end.
– 2019 South Carolina Preview

22. Nick Eubanks, Jr. Michigan

He only caught eight passes, but he made the most of them averaging almost 20 yards per grab with a 41-yard scoring grab against Indiana. There’s no excuse in the higher-powered passing offense for the 6-5, 241-pounder to not be a bigger weapon.
– 2019 Michigan Preview

21. Miller Forristall, Jr. Alabama

The 6-5, 242-pounder isn’t going to be the next OJ Howard or Irv Smith, and he’s coming off a knee injury, but he’s got a great frame and has the upside to potentially explode after catching just six passes so far.
– 2019 Alabama Preview

20. Charlie Kolar, Soph. Iowa State

The 6-6, 252-pounder earned All-Big 12 honors as a decent blocker who caught 11 passes for 137 yards and three scores – he seems to be just getting started. With Kolar combining with eight-catch Chase Allen, the Cyclones have the tight end talent for Brock Purdy to work with.
– 2019 Iowa State Preview

19. Jacob Breeland, Sr. Oregon

He’s not a big blocker, but he’s a strong 6-5, 248-pound target who caught 24 passes for 377 yards and two scores. He’s good in the red zone and can stretch the field a little bit, but he’s not necessarily a volume catcher.
– 2019 Oregon Preview

18. Joey Magnifico, Sr. Memphis

The 6-4, 235-pounder has the great game to go along with the wonderful name. He only caught 21 passes, but he averaged over 17 yards per catch with 363 yards and five scores in the high-powered Tiger attack.
– 2019 Memphis Preview

17. Matt Bushman, Jr. BYU

He only caught 29 passes for 511 yards and two scores, but he averaged close to 18 yards per grab and was the team’s leading receiver. With the expected upgrade in quarterback play this season, the 6-5, 245-pounder has the upside to double his numbers.
– 2019 BYU Preview

16. Cheyenne O’Grady, Sr. Arkansas

One of the few bright spots of the 2018 season should be even stronger with better quarterback play. At 6-4 and 251 pounds he’s got good size, and he can catch, tying for the team lead with 30 catches for 400 yards and six scores.
– 2019 Arkansas Preview

15. Stephen Sullivan, Sr. LSU

At 6-7 and 232 pounds, he’s a huge target who proved he could get deep – at least on a Hail Mary for a score early last year against SE Louisiana. It wasn’t a high-powered LSU passing game, but he still tied for second on the team with 23 catches for 363 yards and two scores.
– 2019 LSU Preview

14. Jake Ferguson, Soph. Wisconsin

While he wasn’t the big play threat that most Badger tight ends become, the potential is there to be more of a field stretcher after finishing second on the team with 36 catches for 456 yards and four scores. The 6-5, 247-pounder was a big get for the program, and now he’ll be a terrific safety valve.
– 2019 Wisconsin Preview

13. Tyler Davis, Sr. Georgia Tech

UConn might have struggled and sputtered through a miserable season, but the passing game was okay. Davis only averaged 11 yards per catch, but he scored six times on his 22 catches for 237 yards. Now he’s a Yellow Jacket where he’ll be a key piece of a revamped attack.
– 2019 Georgia Tech Preview

12. Josiah Deguara, Sr. Cincinnati

The second-leading receiver in the improved Bearcat offense is back. He might not be another Travis Kelce, but he’s a reliable and consistent midrange target catching 38 passes for 468 yards and five scores.
– 2019 Cincinnati Preview

11. Cole Kmet, Jr. Notre Dame

An intimidating pitcher to go along with his football duties, the 6-6, 255-pounder should be in for a massive season with Alize Mack gone to the NFL. Kmet caught 36 passes for 360 yards and three scores, but he has 50+ catch skills.
– 2019 Notre Dame Preview

10. Brevin Jordan, Soph. Miami

He didn't make too many plays down the field - averaging fewer than nine yards per catch - but he made 32 grabs or 287 yards and four scores as the team's second-leading receiver. If the Hurricane quarterback situation is stronger and better the 6-3, 245-pounder's numbers should blow up.
- 2019 Miami Preview

9. Mitchell Wilcox, Sr. USF

An excellent pro prospect with the right 6-5, 245-pound size to go along with the athleticism and toughness to battle for the ball. A bit of a late bloomer, he got bigger over the last few years, and he blew up last year with 43 catches for 540 yards and two scores.
- 2019 USF Preview

8. Harrison Bryant, Sr. Florida Atlantic

Good before, now he'll - most likely - have former FSU quarterback Deondre Francois slinging it to him. The 6-5, 240-pounder followed up a terrific sophomore season with 45 catches for 662 yards and four touchdowns. With special athleticism, he can do a little of everything.
- 2019 Florida Atlantic Preview

7. Jared Rice, Sr. Fresno State

The 6-5, 238-pound volume catcher was second on the team last season with 55 grabs for 664 yards and three scores. He's not all that big, but he can move, he can get open, and he's got the hands to be reliable for the new starting quarterback.
- 2019 Fresno State Preview

6. Grant Calcaterra, Jr. Oklahoma

A true bulked up wide receiver, the 6-4, 221-pound junior is back after coming up with a nice year with a steady 26 catches for 396 yards and six scores, including two in the Big 12 title game over Texas. He can get deep and he can be a reliable midfield target, but with all of his experience, he needs to become an even bigger weapon.
- 2019 Oklahoma Preview

5. Pat Freiermuth, Soph. Penn State

The big 6-5, 262-pound target is coming off a big first season, growing into a steady target in his true freshman season. A freakish talent with power, size and athleticism, he caught 26 passes for 368 yards and eight scores - averaging over 14 yards per catch - with four touchdown grabs over the last three games.
- 2019 Penn State Preview

4. Colby Parkinson, Jr. Stanford

With Kaden Smith leaving early and becoming a San Francisco 49er, it'll be the 6-7, 240-pound Parkinson's tight end gig to own. Even with Smith having a big season, Parkinson caught 29 passes for 485 yards and seven scores, averaging close to 17 yards per catch. He's a matchup nightmare.
- 2019 Stanford Preview

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CFN Third Team All-America Tight End

3. Brycen Hopkins, Sr. Purdue

The next-level types certainly like him, and this year, so will Purdue QB Elijah Sindelar. At 6-5 and 245 pounds, he's got the ideal size with the speed to get deep, averaging over 17 yards per catch on 34 grabs for 583 yards and two scores.
- 2019 Purdue Preview

CFN Second Team All-America Tight End

2. Jared Pinkney, Sr. Vanderbilt

With Pinkney combining with top receiver Kalija Lipscomb, the Commodores have some fantastic receiving talent. The 6-4, 260-pound Pinkney could've turned pro early and would've been a top 100 overall pick, but instead he's back after coming up with a monster 50-catch, 774-yard, seven touchdown season.
- 2019 Vanderbilt Preview

CFN Preseason All-America Tight End

1. Albert Okwuegbunam, Jr. Missouri

Banged up a bit, he missed a few games at the end of the season in an offense that didn't bomb away like it did in 2017, and he still caught 43 passes for 466 yards and six scores, averaging close to 11 yards per catch. The 6-5, 255-pounder has wide receiver abilities in a big frame. He'll be Kelly Bryant's favorite target in what could be a 60-catch campaign.