Pound for pound, the tight end might be the best overall position at the 2022 Senior Bowl. After a few years of classes lacking any real depth, 2022 is a good one. There is an abundance of mid-round options at the position, most of them attending the Senior Bowl. Nobody sticks out like a sore thumb in this group with all of the players very solid. Here's what you need to know about the tight ends participating in this Senior Bowl.

Trey McBride was an unstoppable force this past year for Colorado State. To say the Rams’ offense heavily featured McBride would be a massive understatement. McBride was heavily targetted, boasting a whopping 34% target share in 2021. It was for good reason too… McBride was a mismatch for pretty much every defense he played. McBride does everything you count on your tight end can do. Bringing to the table incredible physicality, McBride will make circus catches over two defenders then proceed to bully his way to the endzone. Oh, by the way, he is fantastic as a run blocker. Trey McBride has Mark Andrews level upside, and a big Senior Bowl might even propel him into the first round.

Sticking to the Moutain West Conference, Nevada’s Cole Turner is a touchdown machine. With just under a touchdown a game since switching to tight end, Turner quickly developed into one of quarterback Carson Strong’s top weapons. Using his 6’6 frame and impressive body control, Turner plays extraordinarily well with the ball in the air. Look for the former wide receiver Turner to impress in the drills.

Also from the same conference is Daniel Bellinger. While he might not have the same name recognition as some of the other tight ends in this class, the former San Diego State Aztec certainly will have fans in the league. Where Bellinger makes his money is in the run game. He uses his size and short-area quickness well as a blocker. He has a mean streak, driving defenders to the ground. With some solid hands, Bellinger could potentially be a solid depth piece.

Staying on the west coast, Greg Dulcich has been underrated his entire collegiate career. A former walk-on recruit, Dulcich had to earn his spot on coach Chip Kelly’s UCLA roster. After earning his spot, Dulcich further earned more of a role each year, culminating in a first-team All Pac-12 selection in 2021. Dulcich is a big-play threat, averaging over 17 yards a catch for the Bruins. With his ability to stretch the field, Dulcich can be a dynamic complementary weapon in the league.

Isaiah Likely is another big-play threat who can rack up yards quickly. The Coastal Carolina product operates more like a big wide receiver, using his blazing speed to be a matchup nightmare for defenses. When he finds an opening, he does not look like a tight end at all!! Give him a bit of space, and he is gone! He Likely would be best suited as a complementary tight end early on before hopefully becoming a full-time starter.

Switching to the Big 12, Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar can be a solid depth piece. What stands out about Kolar right away are his hands. He does not drop passes, especially not in the red zone. He does everything you want in a red zone threat, using his size to make tough catches for six. He may not be the most spectacular athlete, but is a rock-solid fundamental player.

Jake Ferguson also fits the mold of being a fundamentally sound player. Seemingly at Wisconsin forever now, Ferguson plays exactly how you expect a Badger tight end would... fundamental. Ferguson is a ferocious run blocker, helping pave the way for the phenomenal Wisconsin rushing attack. As a receiver, the Madison native is solid overall. Ferguson is a solid athlete and has some soft hands. He may never be a featured weapon, but Ferguson could be a sturdy secondary option for a team.

Fellow Big 10 tight end Jeremy Ruckert may not have lived up to his top 50 recruit billing, his lack of production not entirely his fault. In an offense stacked at wide receiver, Ruckert had to fight for targets. Over his career at Ohio State, Ruckert flashed with some phenomenal catches. An overall balanced player, Ruckert will make scouts very happy with his effort as a run blocker. Though he might not have lived up to expectations quite as much at Ohio State, Ruckert can show why he was such a highly-touted prospect at the Senior Bowl.

Grant Calcaterra is one of the best stories at this iteration of the Senior Bowl. Just a few short years ago, Calcaterra was on the fast track to being one of the star attractions down in Mobile. A rising star at Oklahoma Calcaterra had to retire due to multiple concussions in 2019. Picking back up at SMU in 2021, Calcaterra is one step closer to realizing his NFL dream. Used primarily as a big slot receiver due to his size and athleticism, Calcaterra is a versatile weapon to watch for.

Final Tight Ends Roster

Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina (American)

Grant Calcaterra, SMU (American)

Daniel Bellinger, San Diego State (American)

Greg Dulcich, UCLA (American)

Trey McBride, Colorado State (National)

Charlie Kolar, Iowa State (National)

Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State (National)

Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin (National)

Cole Turner, Nevada (National)

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen

Wide receiver is always one of the best positions at the Senior Bowl. Jim Nagy and co. know exactly what the NFL is looking for, their wide-out classes always reflecting the trends of the league. It’s no different this time around. This year’s theme is crystal clear... it is all about vertical ability. Nearly every receiver in this draft excels at stretching the field in their own way. In a typically stacked group, here are the pass catchers you should keep an eye on down in Mobile.

Jahan Dotson is the best receiver at this Senior Bowl. Media perception would be even better if he received the service he truly deserved at Penn State. Despite the shaky quarterback play, Dotson still managed over 1,100 yards. A speedster, Dotson runs crisp routes and plays bigger than his size. The former Nittany Lion's quick route running will shine bright in the 1-on-1s down in Mobile. Look for a big Senior Bowl to propel Dotson into the first round.

Another athletic Big 10 receiver is Bo Melton. Held back by the scheme and overall quarterback play at Rutgers, Melton was unable to really show what he can do over the past five seasons in North Jersey. The former Scarlet Knight is a great athlete, and it shows when he has the ball in his hands. A former scatback in high school, Melton just has a knack for creating extra yards with the ball in his hands. He will fight for extra yards with the ball in his hands. Could Melton possibly hold a Deebo Samuel-type role in the future?

Calvin Austin III is another speedster who can turn heads in Mobile. He may be small, but he has game-breaking speed. The pocket-sized slot weapon might not look like much at first… until he blows past your defense for six. As quick as he is fast, Austin is a terror to tackle in the open field. It's not just the straight-line speed for Austin too, his violent cuts are nearly impossible for defenders to keep up with. Look for Austin to corners trouble in the 1v1 drills.

Much larger in stature than Austin is North Dakota State’s, Christian Watson. Watson may not have a ton of hype yet, but a big week in Mobile can change that. Standing out amongst the rest of the pack at 6’5, don’t mistake Watson for just a contest catch guy! Watson was a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands for the Bison. His game has a smoothness you just don't see in guys that big. He played exceedingly well at North Dakota State and has tremendous upside, but how will he fare against a very talented corner group?

Another one looking to shoo away doubts regarding his level of competition is Jalen Tolbert. Tolbert has consistently been one of the best deep threats in football over the past two years for Southern Alabama. A sizable target, Tolbert can extend the field, making tough catches. This guy catches pretty much everything! Playing in the Sun Belt, the level of competition will always be a question mark heading into the draft process. At the Senior Bowl, the Mobile native has the opportunity to answer any doubts.

Finishing up with another big target from a small school we have Cincinatti's, Alec Pierce. All year Pierce has made catches he had no business hauling in. All Desmond Ridder had to do was put the ball in the general vicinity of Pierce, and most of the time it was a completion. Going along with the theme of the class, Pierce uses his contested catch ability to make catches down the field. Averaging over 17 yards a reception for the Bearcats, Pierce’s blend of size and athleticism make him a player to watch at the Senior Bowl.

Final Wide Receivers Roster

Khalil Shakir, Boise State (National)

Alec Pierce, Cincinnati (National)

Romeo Doubs, Nevada (National)

Christian Watson, North Dakota State (National)

Jahan Dotson, Penn State (National)

Bo Melton, Rutgers (National)

Calvin Austin III, Memphis (American)

Reggie Roberson, SMU (American)
Danny Gray, SMU (American)

Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama (American)

Velus Jones Jr, Tennessee (American)

Tre Turner, Virginia Tech (American)

Dontario Drummond, Ole Miss (American)

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen

This quarterback class is viewed as a down year to many, a step down from previous years of top prospects being fought over as prizes by fledgling teams looking to turn around their misfortunes. 2022 has the potential to be the first year to not have a quarterback be the first player off the board since 2017 when Myles Garrett was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns.

The 2022 quarterback class doesn’t necessarily lack talent. Almost all of the top prospects have intriguing traits, many just lack polish and have big question marks about their overall games. The Senior Bowl has been a great showcase for quarterbacks in recent years, Justin Herbert and Josh Allen are just two examples of top quarterbacks who helped raise their stock in Mobile. This year nearly every top quarterback in the 2022 class minus Matt Corral is going to be participating in the Senior Bowl, and a big week in Mobile could be the first step in taking over the quarterback #1 mantle.

Sam Howell is the name that stands out the most on the roster. The North Carolina junior graduated in time to attend the Senior Bowl, and he may be the player that needs a big week more than anyone. Sam Howell put the world on notice early on, throwing for over 3,500 yards and over 30 touchdowns in both of his first two seasons. The raw traits Howell possessed such as his great arm strength were very apparent. There were some concerns about his game though. Howell would unravel at times under pressure, looking panicky in the pocket. His pocket presence needed work and the UNC offense really limited the reads he made. 

In his junior season, nothing really improved from Howell, the UNC offense definitely feeling the weight of losing two 1,000 yard rushers and two drafted wide receivers. For Howell, the 2021 NCAA season did not go quite as well as he would’ve hoped for, due to factors both in and out of his control, but he still has a chance to show why many pegged him as the #1 quarterback in this class before the season. Without the limitations of his offense and in front of the entire football world, Howell can put on display enough of his traits to push himself back into first-round talks.

Kenny Pickett is the other name that stands out on the roster. The 5th year senior out of Pittsburgh was someone on the Senior Bowl’s radar before the season, but certainly not as one of the main attractions of the event. For most of his collegiate career, Pickett was just a solid quarterback. Nothing really stood out about him or screamed “NFL prospect.” Now Pickett is a Heisman candidate and a potential first-round pick after his stellar 2021 season. Pickett threw for over 4,000 yards and 42 touchdowns, and his film improved in every way too. Can Pickett be the next breakout senior in the mold of Joe Burrow?

Nevada’s gunslinger Carson Strong has become THE internet darling of this draft. With no real standout quarterback, many have flocked to the lesser-known quarterback out of the Mountain West. Strong’s name describes his game, Strong. He is a big arm pocket quarterback who can make every throw on the field physically. He is generally accurate and will be a good fit for a vertical passing game. If you want a quarterback who can stretch the field, Strong is that guy and undoubtedly his arm will impress viewers down in Mobile.

There’s a potentially massive problem with Strong’s game though, his mobility. Strong is not a great athlete one bit. He’s not a guy you want running the ball or to run many option plays with. He is limited outside of the pocket, and will not offer the escapability that others do, and that is going to be a problem for some teams. The biggest thing that is going to be monitored is how well Strong can manage the pocket. The league has seen below-average athletes thrive as pocket passers thanks to their ability to navigate the pocket. Can Strong be mobile enough and smart enough to be a master of the pocket, to negate his below-average athleticism, and to best utilize everything he does well throwing the ball?

Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis both enter Hancock-Whitney Stadium in similar situations. Both have some very intriguing tools at their disposal. Ridder is big, can run, and has a good arm. Malik Willis is a dynamic running threat and arguably has the best arm in the class. Both have not shown to be complete quarterbacks yet, able to consistently make accurate throws and go through reads. The traits for both are enough to have interest in them, potentially early. 

Malik Willis is a player whose college system did his pro evaluation no favors. The Liberty offense was so RPO-heavy that Willis never really got a chance to show that he can make reads. There was also a ton of questionable play-calling, and the talent surrounding Willis was not the best. We have no idea just how good Willis is as a quarterback yet. The player 

For Ridder, he has to show at the Senior Bowl that he can consistently make every throw asked of him. He has the arm power to make the throws, he just has to consistently throw an accurate throw. After four years of college ball Ridder looks like a good college quarterback with some NFL-level tools, can he be just a legitimate NFL quarterback?

Nobody in the NFL draft world knew who Bailey Zappe really was before the season, and nobody expected him to enter the Senior Bowl as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country. The senior quarterback had success at FCS school Houston Baptist but nobody expected Zappe to lead the nation in touchdown passes with 61, breaking Joe Burrow’s NCAA record. Zappe was the perfect quarterback for Western Kentucky’s system, linking up with fellow Houston Baptist transfer Jerreth Sterns to make the Hilltoppers offense one of the best in the country. 

Zappe doesn’t have physical tools that jump off the screen. He isn’t going to run like Willis or have the arm strength of Howell. Zappe is a smart quarterback who makes good quick decisions and throws good accurate passes. Just how high can Zappe go after his stint at the Senior Bowl?

Senior Bowl Final  QB Roster:

Sam Howell, North Carolina

Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Carson Strong, Nevada.

Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

Malik Willis, Liberty

Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen