The SEC sent a five talented tight ends to the NFL via the draft this offseason — Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr., Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger, Ole Miss’ Dawson Knox, LSU’s Foster Moreau and Georgia’s Isaac Nauta.
Fortunately, there are some returning tight ends eager to make names for themselves this fall and hopefully hear their names called during the 2020 NFL Draft.
Who are the best of the best? There are plenty of talented tight ends to choose from, but only five make the cut for our ultimate player. Here’s whose elite skills I’d pick to make up the SEC’s perfect tight end for the upcoming 2019 season:
Speed: Dominick Wood-Anderson, Tennessee
It took Wood-Anderson awhile to get up to speed (no pun intended) in the SEC after spending two years at the JUCO level at Arizona Western. He recorded only 17 catches for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first year as a Vol.
However, some of that had to do with Tennessee’s rebuilding offense, which should be more potent this fall. If QB Jarrett Guarantano takes a big step forward like many expect, Wood-Anderson could be a huge beneficiary. He has outstanding athleticism, so we’ll see if he can put it to use more in 2019.
Hands: Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
Pinkney led all SEC tight ends in receptions last year, making 50 grabs for 774 yards and 7 touchdowns.
He and WR Kalija Lipscomb were QB Kyle Shurmur’s favorite targets in 2018, but Shurmur is off to the NFL. Pinkney will have to work with a new quarterback this fall, but with his size, strength and ability to catch anything thrown in his vicinity, he should quickly become the new quarterback’s favorite target.
Red-zone ability: Albert Okwuegbunam, Mizzou
Okwuegbunam was hampered by a shoulder injury last season, appearing in only 9 games, but he made the most of those appearances. He recorded 43 catches for 466 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has 17 touchdowns in two years for the Tigers.
He’s one of the best in the nation at working the seam and he’s big enough (6-5, 255 pounds) to win jump balls and absorb contact. When you look at his 2018 highlight video below, you’ll see a lot of long touchdown grabs, but that’s more of a product of having Drew Lock as his quarterback:
There are also some tough, physical touchdown grabs in there, and that’s what we’ll probably see more of this year with Kelly Bryant manning the Mizzou quarterback position.
Toughness: CJ O’Grady, Arkansas
O’Grady missed the first two games of the year and didn’t record his first catch of the 2018 season until Week 5 against Texas A&M, but still managed to finish the season with 30 catches for 400 yards and 6 touchdowns against mostly SEC competition.
He was at his best against the SEC’s top defenses, too, scoring 2 touchdowns against Alabama and 2 against LSU. Yes, the Razorbacks lost both games, but O’Grady did what he could for the Arkansas offense:
Arkansas TE CJ O'Grady (#85) vs. Alabama (10/06/18). #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Tb2wVCUzzS
— PFDZ (@PFDZ44) March 19, 2019
He’s Arkansas’ leading returning receiver, and he’ll have a new quarterback to work with. If Ben Hicks or Nick Starkel can help Chad Morris’ offense take the next step, it could be a big year for the talented tight end.
Blocking: Charlie Woerner, Georgia
Woerner hasn’t been involved much in the Georgia passing game the past three years, catching only 25 passes for 298 yards. He has yet to score a touchdown.
However, that’s not his role. He’s there to block, and he does that well. He’s been an important part of the Georgia running game during the Nick Chubb/Sony Michel era and also did a great job leading the way for D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield last season:
Working on my #UGAGameFilm for @UGASportscom.
1st qtr: @DAndreSwift TD is set up by this incredible footwork from @allforgod_55. Three steps and he completely sealed half of the running lane.Somewhere @colecubelic is applauding. pic.twitter.com/9S00QwsmFf
— Dayne Young (@dayneyoung) September 2, 2018
Now that Isaac Nauta is off to the NFL, Woerner might end up being more involved in the passing game this fall. Still, though, his first job will be to lead the way for Swift and the Georgia backs.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
