Zack Kuntz stands out from his tight-end peers. Literally.
Kuntz is listed at 6-feet-8-inches tall, and he weighs 245 pounds. The Penn State transfer excelled at Old Dominion in 2021 and 2022, and he boasts the physique of a basketball power forward.
Given his unteachable size, Kuntz finds himself as a possible NFL Draft pick this spring. He played well in 2021, catching 73 passes for 692 yards and five touchdowns. An injury cut short his 2022 season, as he caught 12 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns over five games.
When healthy, Kuntz uses his size to dominate opposing defenders. He’s a big-bodied target with decent hands and quality speed. He’s a red-zone weapon that should interest NFL teams looking for a goal-line target in the passing game.
Breakout 2021 season
A highly regarded recruit, Kuntz didn’t perform to his hype at Penn State. He was special at Old Dominion, though, torching Group of Five defenses in the passing game.
He showed up in a major way in 2022 at UVA, catching six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. ODU’s offense struggled in that close loss, but Kuntz was a rare bright spot for the Monarchs. He even had a go-ahead touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter against the Cavaliers, although ODU allowed a late field goal to drop the game against the ACC opponent.
In 2021, Kuntz was as consistent as they come. He put together a pair of nine-catch, 100-yard games during the season, and he had three other eight-catch games.
The 2021 season helped put Kuntz on the NFL radar, and while 2022’s injury doesn’t help his stock, Kuntz has the type of traits that should make several NFL teams interested.
Kuntz excels at grabbing contested passes, using his size and strength to box out defensive backs and win battles for 50-50 balls. After the catch, he does well to run through defenders and gain additional yardage.
He has room to grow as a blocker, which NFL teams will want to see during his professional career, but his pass-catching ability can’t be taught.
There were reports that Kuntz ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash in the offseason after the 2021 season. That combination of speed and size is rare among tight ends, and NFL teams could see those traits as the pathway to becoming an elite-level receiving tight end at the NFL level.
Teams need TE help
Outside of some of the top tight ends in the league (Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, etc.) there doesn’t often seem to be a massive gap between tight ends across teams. Teams are frequently looking for more consistent production at the position.
Given Kuntz’ athleticism, he’s going to receive an opportunity to become a dynamic tight end. Athletic, tall tight ends with receiving ability like Kuntz aren’t common, and NFL teams will be attracted to his talent.
There’s a niche in the NFL for elite pass-catching tight ends, and while Kuntz isn’t a guarantee to become a red-zone nightmare for defenses, he has the tools to become a successful NFL player who thrives in the red zone.
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
