The tight end position in the FCS has several potential NFL prospects this fall. We take a look at which ones have a shot, and which ones may catch the eye of scouts by the time the holidays roll around.
Take a look, conference by conference.
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BIG SKY
Cole Grossman, Montana, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Was injured in 2023; In 2022 – 28 receptions, 397 yards, 5 TDs
Grossman is considered a pro prospect at the tight end position and has the career numbers to back it up. During his career, he has caught 65 passes for 873 yards and 10 TDs. He made his college debut for the Griz back in 2019 against Oregon and it’s been quite a ride since then.
BIG SOUTH-OVC
Camden Overton, Gardner-Webb, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: At Chattanooga last two years combined – 17 catches, 151 yards, 3 TDs
Overton will have a great opportunity to show how talented he is with many lineup changes at Gardner Webb. He began his career at Chattanooga. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound TE had 64 receptions as a senior in high school.
CAA
Carter Runyon, Towson, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 43 receptions, 549 yards, 4 TDs
Arguably the top tight end NFL prospect at the FCS level, Runyon has gone from a player at Division III Shenandoah University to a pro prospect. He is Towson’s first-ever All-American tight end and led the Tigers in receiving in every category last fall.
IVY
Bryce Myers, Penn, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 32 receptions, 329 yards, 1 TD
Myers was a key contributor in all 10 starts of his 2023 season. He had a clutch scoring catch against Yale and had eight catches against both Harvard and Dartmouth.
MEAC
EJ Core, Delaware State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 28 receptions, 391 yards, 2 TDs
Core could easily double up and play the classic wide receiver position, also, as his numbers and his production during his high school days would prove (538 receiving yards, 10 TDs as a senior in just eight games).
MVFC
JJ Galbreath, South Dakota, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 36 receptions, 579 yards, 5 TDs
In a conference that traditionally produces talented tight ends, Galbreath stands out as a pro prospect at the position. He came up clutch against the national champions, South Dakota State (8 catches, 65 yards), as well as catching a 75-yard touchdown in the playoffs against Sacramento State.
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NEC
Landen Lucas, Robert Morris, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: 16 receptions, 256 yards, 4 TDs
Lucas began his college career at Fresno City College and has continued it with an impressive 2023 season – even with all-conference TE Chaese Jackson to share the load with. Jackson is gone now, and RMU moves into the NEC.
PATRIOT
Isaiah Grimes, Georgetown, Soph.
2023 STAT LINE: 30 receptions, 266 yards, 2 TDs
Grimes may only have been a freshman last year, but he was very productive in his first year out of William Penn Charter HS in Philadelphia.
PIONEER
Worth Warner, Presbyterian, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 31 receptions, 403 yards, 3 TDs
Warner was the Pioneer League’s first-team all-conference selection at TE, averaging 13 yards per catch. His touchdown against Wofford was a critical part of a Pioneer League team’s first-ever win against a SoCon school.
SOCON
Jonathan Burns, ETSU, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: 20 receptions, 171 yards, 1 TD in 7 games
Burns transferred to ETSU from Gardner Webb – where he played 19 games the past two seasons and accounted for 37 receptions for 365 yards and 3 TDs.
SOUTHLAND
Lee Negrotto, Nicholls, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 14 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD.
Negrotto was the second-team all-conference selection in the Southland Conference last fall and has 60 receptions in his 38-game career. Expect big things for him this fall.
SWAC
Tavarious Griffin, Alcorn State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 25 receptions, 317 yards, 4 TDs
Griffin – who is also known by his appropriate nickname “Truck” – was named an HBCU All-American by Boxtorow last fall. He has 40 receptions for 528 yards and 7 TDs in his career.
UAC
Alec Pell, Austin Peay, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: Limited time in 2023, but had 26 receptions, 253 yards, and 1 TD in 2022 at Northern Colorado
Pell, a former 3-star recruit who initially signed with Colorado out of high school in 2019, is looking for a new start to his career after playing the last two years at Northern Colorado. He only played in three games last fall.
