Notre Dame's Carlson Heads Fine Tight End Class

POSITIONAL OVERVIEW: Tight Ends - Grade B
This year's tight end group is a fine class with seniors prospects John Carlson, Fred Davis and Dustin Keller all fine performers who should be top 100 selections. With the addition of talented juniors Marcellus Bennett and Jermichael Finley, this group is a fine class of pass catchers who can provide impact in pro passing attacks. This TE class lacks a first round prospect, but it is a solid group of playmakers that is one of the deeper ones in recent years.

Tight Ends

1. John Carlson - 6-5, 250 4.65 - Notre Dame
Sure handed tight end is coming off a weak final season and an offseason illness. His NFL Combine workout was only average but he produced a huge performance at his ND pro day. He ran a 4.67 time and showed well developed receiving skills that moves him to the head of this good class of tight end prospects.

2. Fred Davis - 6-3, 255 4.75 - Southern Cal
Mobile athletic tight end displays fine receiving skills and improving blocking ability to be an early NFL starter.

3. Dustin Keller - 6-2, 245 4.45 - Purdue
Mobile receiving tight end has been very productive over his fine Big Ten career and gives an offense an added dimension in the passing game. He had a great workout in Indy and moved up among the elite TE prospects.

4. Brad Cottam - 6-7, 270 4.65 - Tennessee
Huge senior tight end had a good week at the Senior Bowl after an injury marred final season. He followed that with a good effort at the combine that moves him into the upper echelon of the position.

5. * Martellus Bennett - 6-6, 255 4.65 - Texas A&M
Big athletic junior tight end has the physical package to become a top NFL playmaker. He had a very good effort at the NFL Combine.

6. Kellen Davis - 6-6, 260 4.60 - Michigan St
Huge prospect combines fine size, speed, agility and movement skills. He gets into the deep seam and catching the ball while improving as a blocker

7. * Jermichael Finley - 6-5, 240 4.70 - Texas
Fluid junior tight end displays well developed receiving skills to be a real factor in a pro passing game early in his career. He had a better pro day at Texas than he produced in Indy.

8. Martin Rucker - 6-5, 250 4.75 - Missouri
Athletic senior tight end is a well developed prospect with the ability to fill all the roles for the position. He needs a big pro day after sitting out NFL Combine.

9. Jacob Tamme - 6-4, 235 4.55 - Kentucky
Sure handed tight end developed nicely in the UK passing game, displaying fine movement skills and the run after the catch skills to be a fine pro weapon.

10. Joey Haynos - 6-7, 260 4.85 - Maryland
Tall sure handed tight end made nice progress over his final season to move up significantly in this solid class of prospects.

11. Craig Stevens - 6-3, 255 4.60 - California
12. Gary Barnidge - 6-5, 235 4.65 - Louisville
13. Tom Santi - 6-4, 250 4.80 - Virginia
14. Chris Brown - 6-2, 250 4.80 - Tennessee
15. Darrell Strong - 6-4, 265 4.80 - Pittsburgh