Stock still rising for LSU TE signee Ka'Morreun Pimpton

LSU signed three tight ends in the 2023 recruiting cycle, and the highest-ranked member of the trio is Texas four-star Ka’Morreun Pimpton.

Pimpton was ranked by On3 as the No. 4 tight end prospect in the country, a meteoric rise into the Top 100 thanks to a big senior season on the football field.

Now, Pimpton is giving LSU fans even more reasons to get excited about his future.

Pimpton “killing it” in track-and-field this spring

At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, Pimpton is first and foremost tabbed as a pass-catching tight end.

And if his showing in track-and-field the past two years is any indication, he’s got plenty of explosiveness packed into a lengthy frame.

In March, Pimpton recorded a 53’2″ shot put, which wasn’t far off from his personal best of 54’10” during outdoor season as a junior.

Then there’s the discus.

On March 25, Pimpton recorded a 182’10” discus throw at Jesuit-Sheaner relays. The throw was a head-turning 22-feet further than his personal best as a junior a year ago.

“He is in the process of killing it in shot put and discus,” LSU offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Denbrock said earlier this month. “It speaks to his explosiveness as an athlete. There’s a lot of things there I can’t wait to get my hands on. That’s probably the best way to describe it.”

On3 National Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power shed some additional light on what the numbers mean for a tight end prospect who has one of the best catch radiuses in the 2023 cycle.

“Pimpton’s throws would be elite for a 300-pound lineman, but they are even more impressive when you consider he’s a tall, 230-pound tight end with elite length”, Power said. “When you pair the functional explosive strength with his 99th percentile length, the result is a prospect who is very unique physically.”

What does it all mean for Pimpton as he gears up to arrive at LSU this summer and join a tight end room that includes returning starter Mason Taylor and welcomes in two early-enrollees in Mac Markway and Jackson McGohan?

“We will see exactly where he is,” Denbrock said. “We have been sending him material and things like that to try to keep him caught up to what we are doing install-wise so he doesn’t feel like he’s falling behind. 

“There’s definitely some situational football and things like that where I think you will see him and his abilities that he brings to the table help us in those critical moments.”

Given his track record with TE’s, Kelly has high praise for Pimpton

LSU head coach Brian Kelly is no stranger to evaluating and developing elite tight ends.

During his time at Notre Dame, Kelly coached tight ends like Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, Cole Kmet and more. He also signed five-star Michael Mayer, who is expected to be a first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

After a breakout season from Mason Taylor as a freshman in Baton Rouge, Kelly is eager to get Pimpton on campus to add even more weapons to the room.

“I don’t know that I’ve had somebody with his raw athletic ability,” Kelly said after the early signing period. “Certainly, there’s work to be done as it relates to the physicality of the position and whether he’s going to be an in-line (tight end). We want to develop our tight ends as complete tight ends where they can do everything, where they’re not just the guy that you can split out. We want them to be able to get in there and be part of a blocking scheme as well.

“He’s committed to that and that’s one thing that we talked about, my background in developing tight ends and Coach Denbrock is incredible. (There are a) number of tight ends that (Denbrock) has developed. We wanted that for him and that resonated with him.

“Then obviously, the other skills that he brings you just can’t teach right? I mean his catch radius, his ability to win in one-on-one matchups is going to be exciting to be able to develop.”

The On3 Evaluation

“Long-bodied tight end prospect who may have the widest catch radius in the entire country. Has a big frame and truly elite length at the position, measuring around 6-foot-6, 225 pounds with 36-inch arms as a senior. Complete mismatch in the red zone. Natural pass catcher that can high point the football with ease with strong hands. Bodies defensive backs in contested catch situations. Also shows outstanding tracking ability, making several fantastic over the shoulder grabs as a senior. Smooth athlete that lacks ideal twitch but can separate with his long strides. Turned in a revelatory senior season, leading to a huge rise. Caught 49 passes for 951 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior.

“Willing and active blocker. Raw power is evident but lacks necessary mass at this point for the next level. Threw a tremendous 54-foot-10 in the shot put and a 160-foot-10 in the discus during his junior track and field campaign. Will need a year or two to develop mass in lowers but has the frame and build to carry much more weight. Ultimate ceiling will be determined by his continued development as a route-runner and threat after the catch. High floor prospect who could play an immediate role in an offense the day he steps on campus. Should turn into an every down player as he continues to develop his lower half.”

Pimpton’s NFL Comparison from the On3 Rankings and Scouting team:

Brandon Pettigrew

2009 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 20

“Ka’Morreun Pimpton’s extreme length, large catch radius and upside as a blocker reminds us of Brandon Pettigrew. Both have big frames, but Pimpton is longer and may be a better overall athlete.”