2012 NFL Draft tight end rankings: Jake Stoneburner rising

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 11:01 AM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

It's still early in the college football season, but now is as good of a time as any to update individual position rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft.

Despite the terrible play by his quarterbacks, Ohio State's Jake Stoneburner has shown this season that he's the best draft eligible tight end in the nation. While none of this year's class appear to be first rounders right now, Stoneburner has shown the ability to get open, come off the line fluidly and hold up as a blocker. The rest of the tight end class features several players who are little more than glorified wide receivers.

Note: The position rankings aren't currently in line with the site's top 200. After each position ranking is released, a new top 200 will be published.

1. Jake Stoneburner | 6'5, 245 pounds | TE | Ohio State *

2. Coby Fleener | 6'6, 245 pounds | TE | Stanford - Prospect notes

3. Michael Egnew | 6'6, 235 pounds | TE | Missouri - Prospect notes

4. D'wayne Allen | 6'4, 255 pounds | TE | Clemson *

5. Ladarius Green | 6'6, 230 pounds | TE | Louisiana-Lafayette - Prospect notes

6. Orson Charles | 6'3, 240 pounds | TE | Georgia * - Prospect notes

7. George Bryan | 6'5, 265 pounds | TE | North Carolina State

8. Rhett Ellison | 6'5, 255 pounds | TE | Southern California

9. David Paulson | 6'4, 242 pounds | TE | Oregon - Prospect notes

10. DeAngleo Peterson | 6'3, 236 pounds | TE | LSU

11. Blake Ayles | 6'5, 245 pounds | TE | Southern California

12. D.C. Jefferson | 6'6, 258 pounds | TE | Rutgers *

13. Brian Linthicum | 6'5, 245 pounds | TE | Michigan State

14. Brad Herman | 6'4, 255 pounds | TE | Iowa

15. Josh Chichester | 6'7, 240 pounds | TE | Louisville

* denotes underclassman

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Comments

I've probably asked you this before, but has Nebraska's Kyler Reed caught your eye at all?

Is his blocking the big area he needs to improve, or is his size (6’3" 230) an issue moving forward?

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

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by Omaha Sun on Sep 20, 2011 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

I''m shocked at how TEs are no longer the blockers they once were

With the improvement of passing offenses, an ideal guy doesn’t have to be 6’5" 250 anymore. Some teams are looking for, and having success with, smaller, receiving threats who are bad matchups for linebackers.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Sep 20, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

This almost could have been a reply to my comment.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Sep 20, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought about it

But then I decided to get the glory myself and start another post =)
To reply to your post down here though, I think Reed’s size is too small even to be just a receiving TE. Consider a physical freak like Megatron who is 6’5" 240, bigger, stronger, and faster than him. Granted, Megatron is a special case. But I can’t think of a single TE in the NFL who is less than 245. I could be wrong, and Reed could bulk up a bit, but the biggest question I guess would be his speed and how the improved bulk for occasional blocking duty will affect his speed.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Sep 21, 2011 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions