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TE Profiles
By: John McMullen
Tight Ends Update: 2/4/98
We were one of the first to tell you about him and after a sterling postseason, North Dakota's Jimmy Kleinsassen has moved on top of nearly everyone's board as the Draft's top tight end. After Kleinsassen, it looks like a crap shoot if you want a solid four down tight end but Mississippi's Rufus French and Georgia's Larry Brown certainly have the physical ability to be top flight guys.
Penn State's Cuncho Brown took the biggest hit as he continues to look like an overmatched, lumbering John Lumpkin type instead of competition for Kleinsassen. Speaking of Lumpkin, he and Texas A&M's Derek Spiller join our top prospect list. Here's the updated rankings:
- Jimmy Kleinsassen North Dakota 6-2 274
- Larry Brown Georgia 6-5 260
- Rufus French Mississippi 6-4 250
- Jerame Tuman Michigan 6-5 250
- Reggie Kelly Mississippi State 6-5 243
- Derek Spiller Texas A&M 6-3 240
Spiller is an undersized receiving tight end who is an excellent athlete with the speed to stretch defenses. He has good hands and can run and break tackles after the catch. On the downside, Spiller is regarded as a bit lazy and inconsistent. He also will not help you in the blocking aspect very much. If Spiller works a little harder and applies himself, he may have a future as a movement tight end or H-back.
- Cuncho Brown Penn State 6-4 270
- John Lumpkin Ohio State 6-7 270
Lumpkin is an absolutely massive player who lacks the consistency and speed to be an upper echelon pick. With his size and potential blocking ability, Lumpkin should make someone a nice developmental prospect. He will however, never be an upper echelon guy but he has a chance as a second or third tight end.
For profiles on all these players check out John's last update.
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