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SI 300 Rankings: TE

From pure blockers to seam busters—the position evolves WITH 2014 STATS

27 MAXX WILLIAMS

Minnesota (6'4", 249 lbs.)

36 rec / 569 yards / 8 TDs

PROS

Freakishly athletic field stretcher. Tough to tackle—known to hurdle defenders.

CONS

Needs to hone route-running. Cannot be counted on as an in-line blocker.

NFL COMP

Kyle Rudolph

80 CLIVE WALFORD

Miami (6'4", 251 lbs.)

44 rec / 676 yards / 7 TDs

PROS

Reliable (and getting better) as a blocker. Can get past a safety or shake a LB.

CONS

Drops have been an issue in the past.

NFL COMP

Brent Celek

110 JEFF HEUERMAN

Ohio State (6'5", 254 lbs.)

17 rec / 207 yards / 2 TDs

PROS

Good hands; solid route runner. Strong enough to tie up defenders at the line.

CONS

Play strength doesn't match weight-room strength. Often injured.

NFL COMP

Scott Chandler

114 TYLER KROFT

Rutgers (6'5", 246 lbs.)

24 rec / 269 yards / 0 TDs

PROS

Former high school WR knows how to get open. Willing to fight for extra yards.

CONS

Not ready to block bigger, stronger defenders.

NFL COMP

Luke Willson

125 BLAKE BELL

Oklahoma (6'6", 252 lbs.)

16 rec / 214 yards / 4 TDs

PROS

So-called Bell-dozer moves well for his frame.

CONS

Not ready to be a consistent downfield threat.

NFL COMP

Heath Miller

133 BEN KOYACK

Notre Dame (6'5", 255 lbs.)

30 rec / 317 yards / 2 TDs

PROS

Size and frame to be effective in running/passing games. Soft hands, will catch the ball in traffic.

CONS

Not explosive after the catch. Lacks big-play ability.

NFL COMP

Crockett Gillmore

139 JESSE JAMES

Penn State (6'7", 261 lbs.)

38 rec / 396 yards / 3 TDs

PROS

Long body. Athletic for his size. Good hands. Played well in pressure situations.

CONS

Not a great blocker. Probably left PSU too soon.

NFL COMP

Levine Toilolo

145 NICK O'LEARY

Florida State (6'3", 252 lbs.)

48 rec / 618 yards / 6 TDs

PROS

Jack Nicklaus's grandson has excellent hands, fantastic catch radius. Adjusts to balls in incredible ways.

CONS

Can be lazy.

NFL COMP

Chris Cooley

192 MYCOLE PRUITT

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (6'2", 251 LBS.)

81 rec / 861 yards / 13 TDs

PROS

Elite measurables; one of the secret stars of the combine. Moves like a WR in space.

CONS

Rounds routes. Issues with high-pointing ball.

NFL COMP

David Thomas

204 NICK BOYLE

Delaware (6'4", 268 lbs.)

37 rec / 304 yards / 4 TDs

PROS

Has the size to be a great blocker with the athleticism to still haul in catches.

CONS

Not the quickest; ran a 5.04 40 at the combine.

NFL COMP

Brent Celek

217 E.J. BIBBS

Iowa State (6'2", 258 lbs.)

45 rec / 382 yards / 8 TDs

PROS

Bona fide red zone threat. Excellent hands. Works well in tight spaces.

CONS

Doesn't pose downfield threat. Not physical or big enough to be an in-line TE.

NFL COMP

Orson Charles

227 WES SAXTON

S. Alabama (6'3", 248 lbs.)

20 rec / 155 yards / 0 TDs

PROS

Natural hands catcher. Was a WR in high school and can still stop and start well for his size.

CONS

Lacks effort blocking at times. Rounds some routes.

NFL COMP

Fred Davis

240 CASEY PIERCE

Kent State (6'4", 242 lbs.)

60 rec / 641 yards / 6 TDs

PROS

Blocks with a wide base; has good hand placement. Held his own against a tough '14 college schedule.

CONS

Doesn't create much separation or pick up many yards after the catch.

NFL COMP

Anthony Fasano

251 C.J. UZOMAH

Auburn (6'5", 264 lbs.)

11 rec / 145 yards / 3 TDs

PROS

No. 3 all time in TDs among Tigers TEs, despite Auburn's limiting offense. Could do even better in NFL.

CONS

Massive target, but doesn't use his frame as well as he could. Lets the ball get in on his body.

NFL COMP

Alex Smith

253 RANDALL TELFER

USC (6'4", 250 lbs.)

21 rec / 197 yards / 2 TDs

PROS

Tough, physical runner; natural hands catcher. Tracks the ball over his shoulder. High-character player.

CONS

Can be lumbering. Lacks lateral quickness, agility to make tacklers miss in the open field.

NFL COMP

Ben Patrick

260 RORY ANDERSON

South Carolina (6'5", 244 lbs.)

22 rec / 260 yards / 1 TD

PROS

Tremendous speed; great vertical threat. Terrific body control and leaping ability.

CONS

Injuries (hamstring, two triceps tears) are a major concern.

NFL COMP

Ladarius Green

272 ERIC TOMLINSON

UTEP (6'6", 263 lbs.)

19 rec / 134 yards / 1 TD

PROS

Absolutely massive. Willing blocker; will take on DEs at the point of attack. Good hands but not dominant at the catch point.

CONS

Lacks speed to get open consistently against LBs.

NFL COMP

Matthew Mulligan

283 JEAN SIFRIN

UMass (6'5", 245 lbs.)

42 rec / 642 yards / 6 TDs

PROS

Smooth, fluid athlete. Changes direction well for his size. Can make contested catches with his frame, long arms.

CONS

If he were 22—not 27—you might have something.

NFL COMP

Tim Wright

286 GERALD CHRISTIAN

LOUISVILLE (6'3", 244 LBS.)

32 rec / 384 yards / 5 TDs

PROS

Had the most bench-press reps, 28, of any TE at combine—a testament to his blocking.

CONS

Must improve pass-catching skills.

NFL COMP

Owen Daniels

2014 FBS touchdown leaders

E.J. BIBBS & MAXX WILLIAMS, TIED WITH 8

Top 40 time at combine

MYCOLE PRUITT 4.58

PHOTO

TRASK SMITH/ZUMAPRESS.COM

PHOTO

ZACH BOLINGER/ICON SPORTSWIRE (PRUITT)

PHOTO

ANDY LYONS/GETTY IMAGES (CHRISTIAN)