2023 NFL Draft Primer: TE, H-Back & FB Big Board Rankings
2023 NFL Draft Primer Series: TE/FB/H
Celebrating our 21st year of independent scouting analysis, NFLDB previews the 2023 NFL Draft TE, H-Back, and FB Class.
The Official 2023 NFL Draft Bible has been delivered to your inbox! Please check your email.
If you did not receive it or just want to advertise email me at ric@nfldraftbible.com
If you ordered a hard copy edition of the 2023 NFL Draft Bible, it should be arriving in the mail next week.
To whitelist my email address just simply send a test message saying hi to allaccessfootball@substack.com
Catered towards the die-hard draftnik, our newsletter will be bringing you even more of the names you need to know. Our in-depth scouting analysis includes background information, medical reports, stats, and more. We use a unique player rating scale, which measures each prospect's immediate impact level, potential developmental grade if a player maxes out his potential and a final projection of what type of player they will ultimately become.
NFLPA Bowl Advance Scout | Collegiate.nflpa.com
PFWA Member | ProFootballWriters.org
FWAA Member | SportsWriters.net
2023 NFL Draft PRIMER SERIES: TE/FB
2023 NFL Draft PRIMER SERIES: TE/FB
The NFL is enjoying a pinnacle era for tight ends with some of the most incredible athletes the game has ever seen. As a result, we have seen an explosion of big play tight ends littered around the league over the past decade.
While the 2023 tight end class may not produce many early selections, there is great value in the middle rounds to be had. The cream of the crop seems to stand alone in the one Michael Mayer out of Notre Dame. A menacing pass-catcher with great ability to gain yards after contact, Mayer possesses excellent size, toughness and overall polish. He can be a four-down player due to his blocking ability and his game might remind you of another former Fighting Irish tight end, Kyle Rudolph but with more upside.
The scouting community is excited about prospects such as Darnell Washington of Georgia and Tucker Kraft out of North Dakota State—strong candidates to be next off the board. In Washington, NFL teams will be getting a long, lean, tight end with dependable hands and a huge catch radius. Kraft is a more compact, speedier receiving threat who can make plays over the middle and will need to continue to add body mass in preparation for the next level.
In Mobile, there will be several players jockeying for position, as they attempt to increase their draft stock at the Senior Bowl. Potential top 100 overall selections include Dalton Kincaid of Utah, Luke Musgrave of Oregon State and Cameron Latu of Alabama.
Following the latest NFL trends, the fullback position has become more of a novelty than a necessity. However, we are seeing a resurgence with more than half the league now employing a fullback on the roster. Primarily used as blockers, a draftable prospect will usually have some run and/or pass-catch ability to accompany their specialty skill.
In the NFL, there is a certain height threshold (under 6-foot-3 for most teams) at the tight end position, which makes it difficult to designate a player there full-time. These prospects usually fall under the ‘h-back’ category. In scouting, oftentimes these players are too big to play fullback but too small to be implemented at tight end. Some teams identify them as ‘tweeners’ and remove them from their board entirely, typically making it a bit more difficult to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
The Senior Bowl has done a wonderful job in showcasing the top fullback and h-back prospects, since Jim Nagy has taken over as executive director. This year is no different. One of the most exciting players down in Mobile this year will be North Dakota State sledgehammer Hunter Luepke, widely regarded as the top fullback prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. A throwback type, Luepke has lined up at fullback, tight end and h-back for the Bison due to his receiving prowess. He’s a downhill thumper who bursts through the line of scrimmage like a bowling ball, yet at 235 pounds, he is still versatile enough to be utilized in an up-tempo or spread scheme.
Another player of note at the Senior Bowl will be Brayden Willis of Oklahoma who is perfectly suited to play h-back due to his body frame, athleticism and blocking ability. Those teams who use two-and-three tight end formation sets would be wise to get eyes on Willis. Two other players worth monitoring include Ryan Miller of Furman, who turned some heads at the Hula Bowl and Princeton Fant of Tennessee, who will be participating in the NFLPA Bowl next week.
Below is a look at the current NFL Draft Bible tight end, fullback and h-back big boards for the 2023 NFL Draft. Plus, a look at five prospects at each position on our radar for the 2024 NFL Draft!
# # #
PLAYER KEY: Rank, Player, School, Year, Height, Weight, Forty, Hand, Arm, Wingspan ABBREVIATIONS: SRB = Senior Bowl, EWS = East-West Shrine Bowl, NFLPA = NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, HULA = Hula Bowl, TROP = Tropical Bowl, CGS = College Gridiron Showcase, NIC = NFL Combine Invite, UDFA = Undrafted Free Agent
2023 DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD: TIGHT ENDS
1. *MAYER, MICHAEL | Notre Dame | TE | #87 | Jr | 6044 | 249 | 4.70 | Independence, KY | 07.06.01 (22.2) | Rd1
Ric’s 2023 Evaluation: A menacing pass-catcher with great ability to gain yards after contact, Mayer possesses excellent size, toughness and overall polish. He can be a four-down player due to his blocking ability, and his game might remind you of another former Fighting Irish tight end, Kyle Rudolph, but with more upside. With his rare blend of size, athleticism, toughness and pure natural talent, Mayer is the definition of prototype at the tight end position. Mayer forces opposing defenders to make business decisions with the ball in his hands, as he runs at them like a Mack truck. He is extremely tough to bring down, often requiring multiple defenders to do so. A team captain, he always showed a ferocious intensity and is a notorious hard worker. While his blocking is adequate, there is room for improvement in his development. Overall, his ability to run, catch, block and break tackles makes him an immediate impact player at the next level. With such a well-rounded game, Mayer stands a strong shot to be chosen inside the top 10.
Quotable: “Mike is as intense and as competitive a guy as I’ve been around. He is wired in a way that is unbelievable. He plays angry, and in the best way possible. Mike’s a special dude.” – Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees
Background: Michael made a major impact for the Fighting Irish right from the start as a freshman, racking up multiple All-America honors along the way. He was invited to the NFL Combine where he timed 1.66 10-yard split, 32.5-inch vertical jump, 9-foot 10-inch broad jump, and measured 9.5-inch hands, 31.5-inch arms and a 76-inch wingspan. The four-star recruit from Covington Catholic helped Covington Catholic to a Kentucky 5A State Championship in 2019, and was named the MVP of the title game. He was also ranked the No. 2 tight end in the country. Repped by Athletes First.
Ric’s 2022 Evaluation:
2022 One-Liner:
Tough enough to break tackles after the catch and elusive enough to make defenders miss in the open field.
2022 Evaluation:
A rare blend of size, athleticism, toughness and pure natural talent, Mayer is the definition of prototype at the tight end position. He led the Fighting Irish in receiving with 840 yards, along with seven touchdowns on 71 receptions in 12 games in 2021. Mayer forces opposing defenders to make business decisions with the ball in his hands, as he runs at them like a mack truck. He is extremely tough to bring down, often requiring multiple defenders to do so. The team captain brings a ferocious intensity and is a notorious hard worker. While his blocking is adequate, there is room for improvement in his development. Mayer chose Notre Dame over Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas and has lived up to his top billing. Overall, his ability to run, catch, block and break tackles makes him an immediate impact player at the next level. With such a well-rounded game, Mayer stands a really strong shot to be chosen inside the top ten, should he decide to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.
“The most in-depth draft guide ever seen.” – Dick Vermeil, 2022 Pro Football HOF Inductee
“When it comes to the NFL Draft, nobody breaks it down better.” – Brian Baldinger, NFL Network Analyst
Catered towards the die-hard draftnik, our newsletter will be bringing you even more of the names you need to know. Our in-depth scouting analysis includes background information, medical reports, stats, and more. We use a unique player rating scale, which measures each prospect's immediate impact level, potential developmental grade if a player maxes out his potential and a final projection of what type of player they will ultimately become.
2. *Darnell Washington, Georgia, Jr, 6061, 265, 4.67e, Rd2 | REPORT
3. *Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State, rJr, 6041, 255, 4.58e, Rd3 | REPORT
4. Dalton Kincaid, Utah, rSr, 6041, 241, 4.70e, SRB, Rd3 | REPORT
5. #Luke Musgrave, Oregon State, Sr, 6057, 250, 4.69e, SRB, Rd3 | REPORT
6. Sam LaPorta, Iowa, Sr, 6034, 250, 4.74e, Rd4 | REPORT
7. Cameron Latu, Alabama, rSr, 6041, 242, 4.70e, SRB, Rd4 | REPORT
8. Payne Durham, Purdue, Sr, 6052, 260, 4.82e, SRB, Rd5 | REPORT
9. *Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion, rJr, 6075, 250, 4.65e, Rd5 | REPORT
10. Josh Whyle, Cincinnati, rSr, 6065, 244, 4.69e, SRB, Rd6 | REPORT
11. Davis Allen, Clemson, Sr, 6045, 250, 4.74e, SRB, Rd6 | REPORT
12. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan, rSr, 6052, 248, 4.68e, EWS, Rd6 | REPORT
13. Will Mallory, Miami, rSr, 6050, 249, 4.68e, SRB, Rd7 | REPORT
14. Thomas Greaney, Albany, rSr, 6054, 250, 4.72e, EWS, Rd7 | REPORT
15. Blake Whiteheart, Wake Forest, rJr, 6042, 241, 4.70e, EWS, Rd7, UDFA | REPORT
16. #Jahleel Billingsley, Texas, Sr, 6040, 213, 4.60e | REPORT
17. Noah Gindorff, North Dakota State, rSr, 6052, 266, 4.72e, UDFA | REPORT
18. EJ Jenkins, Georgia Tech, rSr, 6057, 246, 4.70e, 0968, 3438, 8218, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
19. Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman, Sr, 6054, 260, 4.75e, NFLPA, UDFA | REPORT
20. Travis Vokolek, Nebraska, rSr, 6057, 265, 4.76e, EWS, UDFA | REPORT
21. Alex Larson, Saint Johns, Sr, 6055, 225, 4.79, UDFA
22. George Takacs, Boston College, rSr, 6050, 250, 4.78, UDFA
23. Joel Wilson, Central Michigan, rSr, 6033, 245, 4.79e, EWS, UDFA | REPORT
24. Camren McDonald, Florida State, rSr, 6040, 236, 4.73e, NFLPA, UDFA | REPORT
25. Johnny Lumpkin, Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr, 6051, 270, 4.80e, NFLPA, UDFA, REPORT
26. Daniel Barker, Michigan State, rSr, 6030, 250, 4.70e, EWS , UDFA | REPORT
27. Leonard Taylor, Cincinnati, rSr, 6046, 250, 4.73e, EWS, UDFA | REPORT
28. Jordan Murray, Hawaii, rSr, 6030, 232, 4.74e, TROP, UDFA | REPORT
29. Ben Sims, Baylor, rSr, 6034, 255, 4.80e, NFLPA, UDFA | REPORT
30. Ben Bresnahan, Vanderbilt, Sr, 6033, 248, 4.73e, 0938, 3200, 7648, CGS, UDFA | REPORT
31. Kemore Gamble, UCF, Sr, 6033, 244, 4.74e, 1028, 3248, 8000, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
32. Joel Honigford, Michigan, rSr, 6045, 270, 4.84e, TROP, UDFA | REPORT
33. Josh Falo, USC, Sr, 6045, 255, 4.70e, UDFA
34. Jamal Turner, Toledo, Sr, 6046, 239, 4.71e, 0878, 3338, 7658, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
35. Luke Ford, Illinois, rSr, 6056, 280, 4.79e, 0938, 3278, 7928, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
36. Michael Ezeike, UCLA, rSr, 6047, 243, 4.74e, 0928, 3338, 8068, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
37. Tanner Taula, Illinois State, Sr, 6055, 251, 4.80e, 0948, 3300, 7848, CGS, UDFA
38. Lachlan Pitts, William & Mary, Sr, 6056, 254, 4.80e, 1028, 3200, 7900, HULA, UDFA
39. Julian Hill, Campbell, Sr, 6035, 252, 4.80e, 0968, 3318, 8028, HULA, UDFA
40. Hunter Swoboda, Ouachita Baptist, Sr, 6041, 254, 4.80e, 0918, 3200, 7648, CGS, UDFA
Eye On 2024 NFL Draft - TE
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia, Jr, 6036, 235, 4.52 | REPORT
2. Michael Trigg, Mississippi, Jr, 6032, 240, 4.60e
3. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas, Jr, 6036, 249, 4.62e
4. Erick All, Iowa, rSr, 6040, 251, 4.72e | REPORT
5. Arik Gilbert, Nebraska, rJr, 6046, 255, 4.55e | REPORT
2023 NFL DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD: H-BACKS
1. Brayden Willis, Oklahoma, rSr, 6026, 235, 4.58e, SRB, Rd6 | REPORT
2. Jack Colletto, Oregon State, rSr, 6032, 240e, 4.75e, EWS, Rd6
3. *Brenton Strange, Penn State, rJr, 6025, 246e, 4.72e, Rd7 | REPORT
4. Ryan Jones, ECU, Sr, 6016, 245, 4.69e, SRB, UDFA, Rd7 | REPORT
5. Ryan Miller, Furman, rSr, 6012, 209, 4.45e, 0918, 3048, 7348, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
6. Princeton Fant, Tennessee, rSr, 6016, 240, 4.70e, NFLPA, UDFA | REPORT
7. Kamari Morales, North Carolina, rSr, 6016, 245, 4.70e, UDFA
8. Christian Sims, Bowling Green, Sr, 6016, 234, 4.65e, NFLPA, UDFA | REPORT
9. Marshon Ford, Louisville, rSr, 6010, 240, 4.68e, UDFA
10. Brady Russell, Colorado, rSr, 6026, 250, 4.69e, NFLPA, UDFA | REPORT
11. Luke Price, Clemson, rSr, 6006, 235, 4.78e, UDFA | REPORT
12. Johnny Langan, Rutgers, rSr, 6022, 235, 4.60e, UDFA
13. John Samuel Shenker, Auburn, rSr, 6025, 250, 4.74e, TROP, UDFA
14. Jerome Jackson, Liberty, Sr, 6022, 242, 4.76e, 0928, 3300, 7848, CGS, UDFA
15. Wyatt Rector, Florida State, Sr, 6016, 234, 4.80e, 1000, 3200, 7500, CGS, UDFA | REPORT
16. Tyce Daniel, Southern Illinois, Sr, 6010, 256, 4.82e, 0900, 3168, 7538, CGS, UDFA
17. Tyler Roberts, Merrimack, Sr, 6021, 240, 4.78e, TROP, UDFA
18. Tyler Hunt, Michigan State, Sr, 6024, 248, 4.80e, 0900, 3000, 7428, CGS, UDFA
19. Jay Vallie, Eastern Illinois, Sr, 6022, 247, 4.84e, 0938, 3168, 7428, CGS, UDFA
20. Logan Kendall, Utah, rSr, 6023, 262, 4.80e, 0878, 3100, 7528, CGS, UDFA
Eye On 2024 NFL Draft - H-Back
1. Jaheim Bell, Florida State, rSr, 6025, 230, 4.61e | REPORT
2. Cam Large, Wisconsin, rSr, 6020, 234, 4.75e
3. Marshel Martin, Sacramento State, rSr, 6010, 215, 4.64e
4. Brant Kuithe, Utah, rSr, 6016, 220, 4.76e | REPORT
5. Owen Glascoe, LIU, rSr, 6020, 255, 4.79e
2023 NFL DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD: FULLBACKS
1. Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State, rSr, 6012, 235, 4.79e, SRB, Rd7 | REPORT
2. Monte Pottebaum, Iowa, Sr, 6010, 246, 4.80e, UDFA
3. Case Hatch, Arizona, rSr, 6004, 225, 4.70e, 0868, 3048, 7168, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
4. Trent Thompson, UTEP, Sr, 6000, 260, 4.80e, 0938, 3158, 7768, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
5. Tyrick James, Tulane, Sr, 6004, 240, 4.70e, UDFA
6. Caleb Warren, Rhode Island, rSr, 6021, 243, 4.68e, 0938, 3128, 7538, HULA, UDFA | REPORT
7. Jacob Garrett, Southern Illinois, Sr, 6007, 248, 4.72e, 0938, 3068, 7528, CGS, UDFA
8. Zach Angelillo, Northern Colorado, rSr, 6010, 235, 4.74e, UDFA
9. Hunter Budke, Fort Hays State, rSr, 6010, 240, 4.80e, UDFA
10. Giovanni Fauolo Sr., UNLV, rSr, 6016, 255, 4.72e, UDFA
Eye On 2024 NFL Draft - FB Class
1. Masen Wake, BYU, rSr, 6000, 260, 4.82e
2. Jakobi Buchanan, Army, rSr, 5112, 260, 4.79e
3. Jax Dineen, Kansas State, rSr, 5096, 244, 4.75e
4. Luke Hamilton, West Virginia, rSr, 5111, 245, 4.82e
5. Noah Bean, Grambling State, rSr, 6010, 235, 4.80e
The Official 2023 NFL Draft Bible has arrived! Please check your email.
If you did not receive it or just want to advertise email me at ric@nfldraftbible.com
If you ordered a hard copy edition of the 2023 NFL Draft Bible, it should be arriving in the mail next week.
Now in ePub and available on Amazon: Ric Serritella’s NFLDB
For international orders, please allow two weeks for delivery.
Up next for Draftnick Ric
Raiders Nation Clay and Ric discuss Vegas Draft Strategy
HUB Football Camp All Access
Phone call with Phil Steele to discuss College Football Preview
Registration for #HUBCAMP for Sunday, April 16 in San Diego, CA
is closing... Are you missing out?