best college football tight ends of all time best college football tight ends of all time

In todays game of football built around high-powered offenses that rely on big play potential the tight ends are often looked over for running backs and wide receivers who are designed to be home run hitters for their offenses. Arguing between Miller and Heap is futile. . George Kittle Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports The 2019 All-Pro tight end is one of the toughest players to. Gonzalez left Cal with one year of eligibility remaining and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of 1997 NFL Draft. His accomplishments are unmatched by any other player in the position as he dominated for nearly . He was a go-to target for Tim Tebow and was a big piece of the 2008 BCS National Championship squad. Mackey followed that up with 90 receptions for 1,121 yards in 2021 on the way to becoming Colorado State's first unanimous All-American all despite scoring just one touchdown. How would you rank these College Tight Ends in the 2022-2023 BCS season? Ozzie Newsome. Landing at number three on the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends January 2023 rankings list is Michael Mayer who will also be joining Dalton Kincaid in the 2023 NFL Draft. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. The junior saw only 28 targets this past season, ranking 91st at the position. TOP PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR DAY 3. However, many of the tight ends on the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends January 2023 rankings are exceptional athletes with the talent to be a game changer during any game. Dallas Clark 18. MacAfee didn't let up once he got to college, either. Before the major injury and infection, Stogner owned an 87.3 receiving grade while putting up 2.72 yards per route run and a 15-plus yard gain on 32% of his targets. As a tight end, he made the 1980s All-Decade Team alongside Kellen Winslow Sr. Newsome produced two 1,000-yard seasons in his career and twice caught 89 passes. In 2021, he hauled in 37 passes for 398 yards and two touchdowns. 9. 16 overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, where he played all nine of his NFL seasons. 24. Seydou Traore with a CATCH OF THE YEAR candidate ??????? Fastest Tight End 40 Times in NFL Combine History - Horton Barbell Fastest Tight End 40 Times in NFL Combine History By Coach Horton March 5, 2023 I've always loved the NFL Combine. But when he made his mark as a senior in 2007 it was as the best tight end in the nation. Willis finished the season pulling in 39 catches for 514 yards to go along with seven touchdown receptions. Kellen Winslow 7. Its time to ramp up the preview for the 2022 college football season, as Week 0 is just over a month away. Nonetheless, Nesbit quickly turned himself into a four-star recruit and is now a prime candidate to break out in 2022 after his true freshman campaign. A group that includes George Kittle of San Francisco and possibly Sam LaPorta. Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh Panthers. Despite playing behind Kincaid in the Utes offense, Yassmin still pulled in 13 catches for 301 yards to go along with six touchdown receptions. Todd Heap, Arizona State (1998-2000)Stats: 112 rec., 1,658 yds, 10 TDs Colby Parkinson was a five-star out of the class of 2018 before . Playing three years with Coffman, Rucker is one of the just five tight ends on this list who topped 200 receptions and one of just 10 names on this list with 2,000 yards. Nesbit was more of a downfield threat than most tight ends. But he left as a revolutionary player for the tight end position, earning Western Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year and AP All-American honors in 1985. While he may not start or play a traditional tight end position, Gilbert has a ton of talent. Travis Beckum, Wisconsin (2005-08)Stats: 159 rec., 2,149 yds, 11 TDs. Oh, and dont forget about his willingness to block an underrated aspect of his game. Is this another consolation prize like the Joe Moore award. Travis Kelce 12. Mayer is a better blocker IMO and also as ranked by PFF. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Jackson in 1988, and in his nine seasons play professional football, he went to the Pro Bowl five times and won Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers. He still impressed as a pass catcher, though, as his 110 receiving yards after contact ranked 11th among Power Five tight ends. Kincaid, who is expected to be a high draft pick during the 2023 NFL draft is coming off a 70 catch, 890 receiving yards and eight touchdown season. Georgia's Brock Bowers: The reigning John Mackey Award winner is easily the best returning tight end in college football. He was one of the team's best players as a freshman in 2004 before he left school to go on a two-year mission in the Dominican Republic. Kuithe is the lead tight end for the Utes. All three of those metrics ranked inside the top five among FBS tight ends. Rose Bowl, Jan. 2, 2017: USC 52, Penn State 49. Rob Gronkowski 3. Find out with this list of the best 25 tight ends in NFL history: 1 of 25 25. His 1,822 yards rank him in the team's top 25 all-time. However, that wasnt the case, but the Oklahoma Sooners senior tight end didnt disappoint during the 2022 NCAA Football Schedule. He lost playing time and then decided to transfer to Texas, following Steve Sarkisian. At this point no decision has been determined, that said the Cardinal tight end is one of the best tight ends in college football and should be one of the top tight ends drafted if he elects to enter the draft. Jones started his career at Oklahoma and then transferred to East Carolina before the 2021 season. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football. He became a three-time All-American at Notre Dame while capping his career with a national championship alongside quarterback Joe Montana in 1977, the same year MacAfee was also third in Heisman Trophy voting. As the Monarchs transition to the Sun Belt, Kuntz can prove to be one of the best players in the conference. The junior saw only 28 targets this past season, ranking 91st at the position. These are the greatest tight ends to ever play college football. The past few years have been a roller coaster for Gilbert. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington (2011-present)Stats: 109 rec., 1,396 yds, 13 TDs. Tony Gonzalez 2. He never missed a game during his three-year career at Tennessee and helped the Vols to a 27-11 record and an SEC East championship. He had 26 receptions for 410 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. All Hernandez did while at Florida is set school records for receptions in a season (68) and a career. The Bulldogs tight end lists at 6 foot 7 inches while also showcasing solid power and speed to make him a mismatch against NFL linebackers. 2 on C.J. Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings, For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. He then broke Mizzou tight end receiving records with 58 receptions, 638 yards and nine touchdowns as just a sophomore. He tallied more than 200 fewer receiving yards in 2022 despite receiving four more targets. Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends January 2023 rankings list is the Purdue Boilermakers senior tight end Payne Durham. The one position on the college football field that is often overlooked and undervalued is the tight end position. Working against Stover as a receiver is the fact that he plays with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, the two best returning wide receivers in college football. The 2021 four-star recruit began his career at USC, where he hoped to play for the football and basketball teams (he fielded multiple hoops offers from notable Division I programs). Miller relished the blocking side of the game and his physicality and dependability is what has made the consensus All-American one of the NFLs best tight ends for the last decade. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Type above and press Enter to search. With the class of 2024, the Canes have a chance to sign a local product that could one day add to that legacy. Mike Ditka 8. While many of the players on Cincinnatis roster decided to head to the pros from last season, Whyle returned. Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders: The sophomore rounds out the top three and is living up to his five-star hype. The amount of improvement Latu has shown after starting his career as a tight end is incredible. @ASUFootball's Jalin Conyers gets the Sun Devils on the board. Zach Ertz, Stanford (2010-12): 112 rec., 1,434 yds, 15 TDs32. After having a big year in 2020 for Oklahoma, Stogner didnt do as well in 2021, as the quarterback play was inconsistent. Sitting top 10 in the majority of statistical categories for tight ends, Olsen's place among the best of all-time is clear. ???? In fact, he set NFL receiving records for tight ends that stood for over 30 years and finished with over 1,000 receiving yards three times, and he was a four-time NFL All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler in just nine NFL seasons. Ross became the first Northeastern player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Jimmy Graham 16. 8. Fred Davis, USC (2004-07)Stats: 117 rec., 1,408 yds, 13 TDs. Clark was the best player on Iowa's 2002 team that went 11-2 and won the Big Ten championship. He didnt have the huge stats of other elite players but he was an All-American and helped Miami win the national title in 2001. Ben Watson, Georgia (2001-03): 65 rec., 852 yds, 6 TDs60. Spann-Ford is one of the biggest tight ends in college football at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds. George Bryan, NC State (2008-11): 126 rec, 1,323 yds, 17 TDs57. Yurosek started for the first time in his career during the 2021 season and impressed. Orson Charles, Georgia (2009-11): 94 rec., 1,370 yds, 10 TDs49. Last year, he once again led the team in catches. Here is a look at the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends January 2023 rankings: Honorable Mention Thomas Yassmin School: Utah Utes NFL Draft Status: Returning to Utah He averaged 7.4 yards after the catch on seven receptions and caught three of his five contested opportunities. Although he may not be the lead tight end for the Utes, he would start for plenty of teams across the country. Expect North Carolina to give him plenty of opportunities at receiver to create even more mismatches. Its officially time to hit the reset button. Kenny Pickett is now in the NFL, so Bartholomew will be one of new quarterback Kedon Sloviss favorite targets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. June 16, 2021 7 min read. 6. 2022 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 25 tight ends Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Ben Coates 15. 13. Sometimes, you simply know greatness when you see it. With the 115th pick, the Chicago Bears . The dynamic in-state talent was a first-round pick and proved in the NFL that his college career was no fluke. John Mackey. Reminder: This was only his third year of playing football. Sanders joined Texas with a ton of hype as a top-15 recruit in the 2021 class. He has 320 yards and one touchdown in his three seasons. The juniors 65.3 receiving grade this season was nearly 15 points lower than what he posted last year. Bizarre post-game interviews aside, Winslow was a monster on the field at Miami. Jared Cook, South Carolina (2006-08): 73 rec., 1,107 yds, 7 TDs, 51. He actually played some running back for the Gamecocks this past year, as his 257 rushing yards led all tight ends in the country. The son of longtime NFL offensive lineman Jamar Nesbit, Bryson Nesbit was a late bloomer in the football recruiting process due to his proclivity for basketball. He is poised to build on his first collegiate season, for which he earned a 73.0 receiving grade that ranked third among SEC tight ends. Born: Oct. 6, 2000 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), High School: Archbishop Wood High School (Warminster, Pennsylvania), Career highlights: John Mackey Award (2020), AP All-American (2020), two-time All-SEC (2019, 2020), NFL All-Rookie Team (2021), Pro Bowl (2021). RELATED: Craziest National Signing Day Moments of All Time, Born: Dec. 7, 1994 (Little Rock, Arkansas), High School: Pulaski Academy (Little Rock, Arkansas), Career highlights: John Mackey Award (2015), AP All-American (2015), three-time All-SEC (2013-15), Freshman All-American (2013), NFL All-Rookie Team (2016). He was also selected to 14 Pro Bowls, second-most among all players. With both Josh Downs and Antoine Green off to the NFL, Nesbit could have a massive year as Heisman-candidate quarterback Drake Mayes top returning target. He was just a freshman in 2021, but Bartholomew was able to catch 28 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Chris Cooley, Utah State (2001-03): 96 rec., 1,255 yds, 11 TDs53. 12. While the catches were not there, Yassmin made up for it with his big play potential while averaging 23.2 yards per catch over the course of the season. He owns nearly every major receiving record at BYU for tight ends and is BYUs all-time leading receiver with 221 receptions regardless of position. Points: 15Draft picks: 4. In the last 30 years, the tight end position has changed the game of football. Hudson had the great fortune of catching passes from a pair of future NFL star quarterbacks during his time at BYU Jim McMahon for his first two seasons, followed by Steve Young for his last two seasons, in which Young was also named a unanimous AP All-American in 1983. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode. He won a national championship with Oklahoma as a sophomore in 1985 when he caught a 71-yard touchdown pass in an Orange Bowl win over Penn State. . He was the No. Bell was one of the best players on the Gamecocks last season with 30 receptions for 497 yards and five touchdowns. Bottom line: Chase Coffman seemed like he was going to be a transcendent tight end during his time at the University of Missouri, where the Lee's Summit, Missouri, native capped his career by winning the John Mackey Award as a senior in 2008. At a school known for elite All-American tight ends, Beckum was the most explosive, most talented and most productive. Ford finished the 2022 season pulling in 33 catches for 434 yards to go along with three touchdown receptions. 1. Unfortunately, the 'Zona tight end missed all of the 2009 season after preseason back surgery after being named a preseason first-team All-American and the Mackey Award frontrunner. High School: Napa High School (Napa, California), Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022), John Mackey Award (2022), two-time AP All-American (2021, 2022), two-time All-SEC (2021, 2022), SEC Freshman of the Year (2021). Mayer had 67.4 yards per game this season, Bowers had 62.8. Here are the Top 30 tight ends since the BCS was implemented in 1998: Agree or disagree with our ranking of College Football's Top 30 Tight Ends of the BCS Era? Shawn Nelson, Southern Miss (2005-08): 157 rec., 2,054 yds, 16 TDs45. 17. The following are the top 10 tight ends returning to college football this fall. In at number 10 on the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends January 2023 rankings list is the Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Cameron Latu.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); The Crimson Tide who have been long known for producing high caliber players has succeeded once again with senior tight end Cameron Latu. Bowers had an incredible freshman season for Georgia that ended with a National Championship win. Widely considered one of the greatest high school football players from his time at Parkview High in Little Rock, Arkansas, Jackson went 42-5-1 during his four seasons at Oklahoma and is one of just two tight ends in NCAA history to earn unanimous AP All-American honors twice. He missed just one game in his decade long career. His speed was on full display and he is poised for a big season in 2022. That year, he was tied for first on the team with 42 catches and ranked second on the team in receiving yards (450). His 613 receiving yards also trailed only Bowers among returning Power Five tight ends. No matter what the Golden Gophers asked of him, Spann-Ford delivered. The first of three tight end transfers on this list, Bell was criminally underutilized by South Carolina in 2022. Over the years the Iowa Hawkeyes have been known to produce big play caliber tight ends who can not only produce at the college level but at the NFL level. He initially committed to Florida but backed out to join Georgia. Ozzie Newsome is one of the most well-rounded football personalities ever. RELATED: Stadium Talk's 2022 High School All-American Team, Born: Feb. 12, 1963 (San Jose, California), High School: Leland High School (San Jose, California), Career highlights: NCAA Division II Team of the Quarter Century (2000), three-time All-WFC (1983-85), WFC Offensive Player of the Year (1985), AP All-American (1985), four-time Pro Bowl (1992-95), East-West Shrine Game (1985), three-time NFL All-Pro (1992-94), three-time Super Bowl champion (1993, 1995, 1996), College Football Hall of Fame. He was one of three Mackey finalists in 2006. BROCK BOWERS, GEORGIA BULLDOGS Bowers was in the conversation for best tight end in college football despite being a true freshman this past season. Aaron Hernandez, Florida (2007-09)Stats: 111 rec., 1,382 yds, 12 TDs. He had over 800 receiving yards in each of his last two seasons and decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. Trigg had a solid freshman season for USC, albeit in four games played. He was the No. Miller gets a slight nod over fellow Sun Devil Todd Heap due to slightly better production and All-American recognition. He had two seasons with over 900 receiving yards at Northeastern as a junior and as a senior and had his No. Matt Spaeth, Minnesota (2003-06)Stats: 109 rec., 1,293 yds, 12 TDs25. He is expected to do even more in 2022, especially with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke slinging the ball around the field after a nice freshman season. One of the few games that had no national championship sidebars, this was simply a great football game in the greatest, grandest and oldest bowl game. In his too-brief time with the team, Senser caught 165 passes, third all time amongst Vikings tight ends. 25. And not only is Bowers the best tight end in the country, but hes also on pace to be the best in the PFF College era. The 6-foot 6-inch tight end has the size to make him a mismatch and the physical traits to help him excel at the next level. The Louisville Cardinals football program is loaded with potential NFL draft prospects as the 2022 NCAA Football season ends.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); While all eyes will be on Malik Cunningham at quarterback, one player who will go under the radar is Marshon Ford. Brock Bowers has a very good chance at surpassing Kyle Pitts as a prospect. Born: Nov. 5, 1957 (East St. Louis, Illinois), High School: East St. Louis Senior High School (East St. Louis, Illinois), Career highlights: AP All-American (1978), two-time All-Big Eight (1977-78), four-time NFL All-Pro (1980-82, 1987), five-time Pro Bowl (1980-83, 1987), NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th Anniversary Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team, College Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame. Coffman still holds the NCAA career record for receptions by a tight end with 247. Bottom line: Brent Jones came to Santa Clara as a lightly recruited wide receiver who also played on the baseball team. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound tight end emerged with an 83.6 PFF grade in his 2019 sophomore campaign and looked like he was taking his play to new heights in 2020. pic.twitter.com/4qNxh5pN8f, FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 28, 2021. Gary Barnidge, Louisville (2004-07): 108 rec., 1,491 yds, 17 TDs54. Willis finished the season with four games with at least 50 yards including his five catch 102-yard performance in the teams 52-42 win over 19. This move could also play a key role in whether Benjamin Yurosek will look to enter the 2023 NFL Draft or return for his senior season. His 613 receiving yards also trailed only Bowers among returning Power Five tight ends. D.J. The Hall of Fame tight end deserves the same accolades for his time as the Baltimore Ravens general manager. Florida went 26-2 over his last two years in Gainesville. Antonio Gates 4. The Napa, California, native has been one of the Bulldogs' best players in his first two seasons, leading his school to back-to-back national championships and making back-to-back All-American Teams along with winning the John Mackey Award in 2022. Stroud. Missouri went 22-6 over his final two seasons in what many believe to be the best two-year run in program history. Minnesota's Brevyn Spann-Ford: The redshirt senior is one of the most well-rounded tight ends returning in 2023. Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez. The walk-on began his career as a linebacker but quickly developed into a star at tight end. That's when the Fort Morgan, Colorado, product caught 22 passes for 330 receiving yards and four touchdowns, as the Rams only played four games that season because of the pandemic. Washington has converted 10 of his 27 career targets into a gain of 15 or more yards while averaging 18.8 yards per reception overall. Spann-Ford is one of the biggest tight ends in college football at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds. Zach Miller, Arizona State (2004-06)Stats: 144 rec., 1,512 yds, 14 TDs His 2,901 career receiving yards are an NCAA record for tight ends. High School: Moorpark High School (Moorpark, California), Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2008, 2009), three-time All-Mountain West (2007-09), Super Bowl champion (2013). He has also broken nine tackles after the catch on 17 career receptions. The undersized but athletic playmaker came from Bristol (Conn.) Central originally, but proved quickly he had what it took to succeed in the deep South. The 2022 PFF College Football Preview Guide has just dropped, and in conjunction with that is an expansion of PFFs preseason positional rankings that will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks. He was a consensus All-American and senior leader for a 12-2 Tigers team that finished fourth in the AP poll. Hudson still holds NCAA career records for a tight end for catches per game (5.4) and receiving yards per game (75.3), and he set the single-game NCAA receiving record for tight ends with 13 receptions for 259 yards against archrival Utah in 1981. If you're listing the best to ever play the position, these guys deserve their shout-outs as well: Iowa is - in recent years- the tight end machine for the Big Ten. Meanwhile Bowers is just a sophomore leaving him to return to the Bulldogs for another season while looking to lead them to a third straight National Championship game. Billingsley had 200 receiving yards in two straight seasons with three touchdowns in each for Alabama. Mallory has had two straight seasons with at least 300 receiving yards and four touchdowns for the Hurricanes. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. And there was some serious (and future NFL) talent on the field. Garrett Mills, Tulsa (2002-05): 201 rec., 2,389 yds, 23 TDs36. He was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award before leaving school early to become a first-round NFL Draft pick. Stogner was in the midst of a breakout sophomore 2020 season before suffering an injury in Week 10 that led to a staph infection. 10. Bottom line: Many consider Tony Gonzalez to be the greatest tight end of all time, and he first gained notoriety during his time at Cal in the mid-1990s. Born: Oct. 22, 1982 (Richlands, Virginia), High School: Honaker High School (Honaker, VIrginia), Career highlights: John Mackey Award (2004), AP All-American (2004), two-time All-ACC (2003, 2004), Freshman All-American (2002), NFL All-Rookie Team (2005), two-time Pro Bowl (2009, 2012), two-time Super Bowl champion (2006, 2009). These rankings are from before the season, but I still think Mayer was the tight end overall. Florida State, his new home, should utilize his talents more than South Carolina did. The 6-foot 5-inch tight end is a mismatch at the position for linebackers while also being a proven red zone threat. Had the 6-foot-6, 260-pound star tight end stayed healthy and played his fourth season at Oklahoma, Gresham likely would have been the best player at his position during the BCS era. He scored 25 touchdowns in two seasons as the starter from 2007-08 just eight shy of the NCAA tight end record (33). High School: Fort Morgan High School (Fort Morgan, Colorado), Career highlights: John Mackey Award (2021), two-time AP All-American (2020, 2021), three-time All-Mountain West (2019-21). Louisville will have some players to watch this season with Ford and his quarterback Malik Cunningham. After finishing last season with 45 catches for 467 yards and six touchdowns, Durham topped that performance in 2022 finishing up with 56 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdown receptions. Kincaid, who is coming off a stellar senior season for the Utes, will be one of the highest tight ends drafted during the 2023 NFL Draft. The award for the best tight end in college football carries his name. McBride is one of the top all-around tight ends in college football when it comes to combining blocking prowess and receiving ability. Born: June 22, 1962 (Everett, Washington), Died: Sept. 27, 2021, 59 years old (San Jose, California), High School: Brighton High School (Salt Lake City, Utah), Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (1982, 1983), College Football Hall of Fame, All-USFL (1985). And his elite 2009 campaign in which he posted 850 yards and five touchdowns made the 6-foot-2, 250-pounder the SECs first-ever John Mackey Award winner. @Jatavionsanders pic.twitter.com/qhsJzX4o69, CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) January 24, 2023. In his first two seasons with Western Kentucky, Simon had 800 receiving yards. Who knows how great of a season Brayden Willis would have had if Chip Riley stayed on as head coach and Caleb Williams was under center for him. The best receiving tight ends of all time include the likes of Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Jimmy Graham, who all added so much to the . John Mackey 10. Jonny Harline, BYU (2005-06): 121 rec., 1,788 yds, 17 TDs42. If he and quarterback Tanner McKee can mesh well again in 2022, Stanford can improve on their 3-9 record. Photo credit Getty Images. He posted back-to-back 900-yard seasons and saved his best games for the biggest competition (9 rec., 140 yds vs. Ohio State, 10 rec., 132 vs. Michigan State, for example). Over the years the Iowa Hawkeyes have been known to produce big play caliber tight ends who can not only produce at the college level but at the NFL level. Notre Dame was at their best when they targeted Mayer in 2021. Pitta returned from his mission and became one of the greatest college tight ends of all time, setting the NCAA career record for a tight end with 2,901 receiving yards. There is not a better college tight end than Bowers. Bowers was in the conversation for the best tight end in college football last year despite being a true freshman. Landing at number three on the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends January 2023 rankings list is Michael Mayer who will also be joining Dalton Kincaid in the 2023 NFL Draft.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Mayer, who announced in early December his intentions to enter the draft will rank among the best tight ends within the 2023 Draft class. In 2021, he was the first tight end to lead a national championship team in receiving yards since Oklahoma's Keith Jackson in 1985. Dorin Dickerson, Pitt (2006-09): 63 rec., 708 yds, 12 TDs56. Ozzie Newsome 9.