As the college football season approaches, HERO Sports takes a look at the top returners at each position in every FCS conference.
More Top Players: QBs | RBs | WRs
The value of tight ends continues to rise each year. Built like linemen and with the athleticism of receivers, these guys are constant matchup nightmares. NFL teams are always looking to add these weapons to their offense. They'll find plenty of worthy options in the FCS.
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Big Sky: Andrew Vollert, Weber State
Currently ranked the No. 15 tight end prospect in next year's NFL Draft, Vollert is a monster at 6-foot-5. He started his career at San Jose State in 2013 and 2014, then played at San Francisco City College before transferring to Weber State last season. His impact was immediate as the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, grabbing 62 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. [divider]
Big South: Jake Powell, Monmouth
Another guy standing 6-foot-5, Powell is ready to take off as a junior and is recognized to do so. He was named to the conference preseason first team after catching 16 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown last year. [divider]
Colonial Athletic Association: Jonathan Kloosterman, James Madison
Kloosterman will have to wait to continue his tremendous play during the FCS playoffs while serving a two-game suspension for a violation of team rules. He had 24 catches for 322 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns last season. Five of those scores came in the playoffs to help JMU win the FCS national championship. [divider]
Ivy League: Anton Casey, Brown
Casey was a reliable target for Brown in 2016 as a sophomore, catching 30 passes. The 6-foot-3 tight end totaled 252 yards and added one touchdown. He averaged three catches per game and only had one game without a reception. [divider]
Mid-Eastern Athletic: Leroy Hill, North Carolina A&T
Hill emerged in 2016 after not appearing in a game the two seasons prior. His first team all-conference season featured 17 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Those two scores came in clutch in one game, a 39-36 quadruple-overtime win against FBS Kent State. [divider]
Missouri Valley Football: Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
The best tight end in the MVFC, the FCS and according to ESPN's Todd McShay, all of college football. At 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, good speed and highlight-reel hands, Godert's receptions from 2015 to 2016 went from 26 to 92, receiving yards from 484 to 1,293 and touchdowns from three to 11. The tight end was named to every FCS all-American team out there and quickly caught the eye of NFL scouts. [divider]
Northeast: K.J. Smith, Central Connecticut State
Just a sophomore in 2016, Smith racked up 38 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, he showed athleticism with a career-high 62-yard reception. [divider]
Ohio Valley: Addison Bounds, Eastern Illinois
Bounds had at least one catch in 10 of 11 games in his junior season last year. He was third on the team with 20 catches, adding 188 yards and three touchdowns. He was voted onto the preseason all-conference first team. [divider]
Patriot League: Dylan Wadsworth, Lafayette
An all-conference first team pick in 2016, Wadsworth had at least two catches in every game and at least four catches in seven games. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder recorded 591 receiving yards and two touchdowns. [divider]
Pioneer Football League: Ross Dwelley, San Diego
Dwelley has size that NFL scouts love at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds. He was extremely active in USD's offense last season with a team-high 70 catches for 843 yards and 10 touchdowns. His numbers have a good chance to go up even more with his starting quarterback returning. [divider]
Southern: Sam Walker, Mercer
Walker is a preseason all-conference first team pick. As a sophomore in 2016, he caught 24 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Walker was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team the year before and will look for more postseason accolades this season. [divider]
Southland: Ragan Henderson, Sam Houston State
The cupboard is a little more bare at tight end in the Southland, mostly because the top players were seniors last year and some teams don't use tight ends. SHSU found a good one with its explosive offense. Henderson is 6-foot, 250 pounds and is a tight end/fullback hybrid used in short yardage situations. Last season he caught five passes for 60 yards and finished with 139 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. [divider]
Southwestern Athletic: Dillon Beard, Southern
Beard was second on the team last season with 488 yards receiving and six touchdowns off 38 catches. He was voted on the preseason all-conference first team.
