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Where the top tight ends in the 2024 cycle are committed

hunterby:Hunter Shelton08/14/23

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Carter Nelson, Landen Thomas, Jaden Reddell
Carter Nelson, Landen Thomas and Jaden Reddell

For many of the top prospects in the nation, high school football regular seasons will begin this week. As kickoffs ensue around the country, many coveted recruits have already made their college decisions.

The 2024 cycle features a bevy of highly-ranked tight ends, nine of whom are top-100 overall prospects, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. The top 20 TEs in the cycle are all currently committed.

Below are the top committed tight ends in the On3 Industry Ranking and where they have pledged.

Landen Thomas — Florida State

School: Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 27 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $253K

Scouting Summary: “Easily one of the most fluid movers in the entire 2024 cycle. Thomas has delicious movement skills that are rare for the tight end position. His ability to maneuver in and out of his routes with loose hips and buttery cuts is top tier amongst all pass catchers. Stands in at nearly 6-foot-4, 240 pounds with over a 6-foot-6 wingspan. Can win at all levels on the field including vertically up the seam. Shows impressive flashes of acrobatic catch ability and a wide catch radius. Has some focus drops that he can clean up but has plus ball skills. Willing blocker but not a hammer in the run game. Can function as an in-line Y but not his wheelhouse. Will be an extremely reliable target at the next level and will constantly work himself open. One of the safest players in the country with top 100 NFL draft potential.”

Jaden Reddell — Georgia

School: Raymore (Mo.) Peculiar
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 41 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $175K

Scouting Summary: “Gifted pass-catcher with wide receiver skills and athleticism in a tight end’s body. Measured at around 6-foot-4, 230 pounds in the spring prior to his senior season. Has plus length and a big frame with 34-inch arms and 10-inch hands. Highly proficient as a receiving threat. Has some of the best ball skills in the 2024 cycle, regardless of position. Naturally plucks the ball out of the air and effortlessly tracks the ball over his shoulder, making difficult grabs look routine. Uses his strong hands, coordination and understanding of body positioning to consistently come down with contested catches in jump ball situations. Runs very well and has a unique long stride that aids in pulling away once in the open field. Can be a bully after the catch, using a stiff arm to neutralize defenders. Very productive as a junior, catching 49 passes for 1,002 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games. Primarily lines up as a wide receiver for his high school team. Will need to develop as a blocker in order to be an every down tight end as he moves up in level of play. Has also played basketball, showing some athleticism on the hardwood.”

Carter Nelson — Nebraska

School: Ainsworth (Neb.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 56 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $144K

Scouting Summary: “Tight end prospect with a unique background and one of the stronger athletic profiles among jumbo athletes in the 2024 cycle. Measured at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with solid length for the position prior to his senior season. Looks to have added some mass during his junior year. Hails from a remote area of north central Nebraska, where he plays 8-man football. Plays all over the field for his high school program, as is the case with most college prospects who play 8-man. Lines up as a quarterback, receiver, tight end, takes direct snaps and plays on defense. Looks like a literal man among boys playing at that level. Shows top end speed and bowls over defenders in the open field. Looks to have considerable burst. The best athlete on the field by orders of magnitude. Shows the ability to track the football, but pure receiving skills remain a question. Has a sterling multi-sport profile. A bouncy basketball player who lives above the rim. Throws down tomahawk dunks in transition. Also shows his overall coordination, movement skills and spatial awareness on the hardwood. Also a standout over multiple events in track and field. Turned in a personal best throw of 52-3.5 feet in the shot put. Posted a 7-foot high jump as a sophomore. Ran in the 11.2 second range in the 100 meters as a sophomore. All are outstanding marks. A tougher evaluation and projection than many other high school prospects. Will see as big a jump in competition level as you can face in moving to the college game. Does not have verified length or frame measurements. Did not replicate his sprint and jump results as a junior.”

Caleb Odom — Alabama

School: Carrollton (Ga.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 61 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $130K

Scouting Summary: “Highly athletic, jumbo receiver with the upside to grow into a dangerous mismatch at tight end. Arguably the most skilled big pass-catcher in the 2024 cycle heading into the senior season. Checked in at listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with good length for the position prior to his senior year. Starred as a receiver for one of the top high school programs in Georgia as a junior, helping Carrollton to a state title game. A long-striding, bouncy athlete with explosive movements. Has the burst to run past defensive backs as an outside receiver. Shows the ability to high-point passes and make acrobatic grabs in jump ball situations. Has good pacing within his routes. Very productive, finishing his junior season with 64 catches for 1,121 yards and 13 touchdowns. Doubles as a big-time above-the-rim athlete in basketball. Has the best dunk reel we’ve seen from a 2024 prospect. Plays high level AAU basketball and is talented enough to play the sport at a high level in college. Has some ambiguity around his long-term position. Could end up as a top player as a receiver or tight end, but may be more unique as a mismatch at tight end at this stage.”

Davon Mitchell — Oklahoma

School: Los Alamitos (Calif.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 70 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $134K

Scouting Summary: “Filled out, sure handed tight end with a wide catch radius. Measured at at a shade under 6-foot-3, 250 pounds prior to his senior season. Has long arms relative to the position. Played at powerhouse Allen High School in 2022 before reclassifying to from the 2024 to 2025 cycle and transferring to Los Alamitos High in California. Was productive as a junior, catching 33 passes for 731 yards and 9 touchdowns. Has strong hands. Uses his length to extend for grabs. Adjusts to poorly thrown balls. Capable of locating the football over his shoulder and coming down with contested catches. At his most effective when working on vertical routes and down the seam. Runs fairly well for his size. Shows some flashes as a blocker. Primarily has lined up in the slot, but has the look of an in-line tight end who can work up the seam and off of play action. Shorter than most top tight end prospects and is closer to his ultimate size than most of his highly-touted peers. Can improve his short area quickness and ability after the catch. Was initially older for the class as a 2025 prospect, is the correct age for a 2024 prospect.”

Trey’Dez Green — LSU

School: Jackson (La.) Zachary
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 73 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $124K

Scouting Summary: “High flying tight end prospect who plays above the rim on the football field as well as the basketball court. Highly rated basketball player who has serious bounce on the hardwood. 50-50 balls are closer to 70-30 for him with his ability to high point the football. Has rare body control and balance for someone his age with his size. Will have some growing pains as a blocker, but his ability to move and go up and get the football with his size is rare for the position. Arguably the top pass-catching mismatch early on in the 2024 cycle.”

Brady Prieskorn — Michigan

School: Rochester (Mich.) Adams
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 84 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $119K

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Scouting Summary: “Big framed athlete who has the skills and upside to develop into a well-rounded in-line tight end. Measured at over 6-foot-5, and north 220 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length for the position with a 33-inch arm and close to 10-inch hands. Typically lines up as a big wide receiver in bunch sets on Friday nights. Runs well for his size. Uses his play speed to get vertical on downfield routes. Shows wiggle at the line of scrimmage along with shake at the top of his routes. Has good awareness in finding open space over the middle of the field. Tracks the ball effectively for the most part. Has the length and stature to boast a sizable catch radius with further skill development. Shows flashes as a ball-winner in contested situations. Effective on a per catch basis, tallying 24 catches for 648 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. Like some top tight end recruits, also plays defense – doubling as a disruptive defensive end. Has the frame and play strength to develop into an in-line blocker with added size. Can improve his consistency as a pass catcher and clean up concentration drops. Also plays basketball. A tad older for the cycle, turning 19 years-old in May of his senior year. Older brother Caden Prieskorn was a Mackey Award semifinalist at Memphis before transferring to Ole Miss.”

Luke Reynolds — Penn State

School: Westford (Mass.) Cheshire Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 89 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $123K

About: Chose the Nittany Lions while also holding offers from the likes of Louisville, Kentucky, Stanford and Pittsburgh. Has taken five visits to State College, including an official on June 9, which has since been followed up by another unofficial trip on July 29. He will enroll at Penn State early. “I am looking forward to having a great season with my teammates,” Reynolds told BlueWhite Illustrated. Our goal is to go win a title. Penn State is a special place. You’ll never be able to replicate it. And, only the people involved in the program and the fans and people who support will only understand what I mean by that.”

Christian Bentancur — Clemson

School: Woodstock (Ill.) Marian Central Catholic
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 90 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $118K

About: Illinois tight end chose the Tigers over Ohio State and Oregon while also holding offers from the likes of Michigan and Texas A&M. Visited Clemson just twice before committing back in January. “They’ve just been showing so much love and all the recruiting, they’ve been going crazy,” Bentancur told On3. “I went there for the game and the game day experience was just like no other. The love they showed was not even close. The fans, the atmosphere, the light show, everything was just great. All the coaches showing love and stuff like that and the facilities, just everything, it felt like home.”

Michael Smith — South Carolina

School: Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 106 overall
On3 NIL Valuation: $103K

About: Took a total of three visits to Columbia, including an OV in June after committing in January. Chose the Gamecocks over Ohio State and Florida, also held many high-profile Power 5 offers, including Alabama and Michigan. “It feels the same. It always feels the same, ever since that Vanderbilt game my sophomore year,” Smith told GamecockCentral. “And I mean, it just continues to grow and feel the exact same. So I feel like I’m welcome and I feel like everyone here felt welcome. So just trying to gain some more teammates while I’m here.”