Let’s look at the tight end position today!
Season Review
Last year saw a few high marks from the tight end group, with three different guys coming together to score 5 touchdowns throughout the season, but as a group, they just don’t see as much action as the other receivers.
Who’s Gone?
The Yellow Jackets lose two of their three tight ends from last year: Dylan Leonard (the former walk-on) and Luke Benson (the former Cuse transfer). Leonard was the starter at TE and led the group in catches (14) and yards (156). Benson added another 84 yards on 9 catches. Leonard signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent, but was waived a couple of weeks ago with an injury settlement. Benson signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent and is still listed on the roster.
Who’s Returning?
That leaves just one of the three tight ends who saw meaningful playing time last year returns to the Flats this year, and that is former UGA transfer Brett Seither. Seither was quite the find. Last season, he found the endzone four times on just 7 catches. I don’t know if Seither (or the tight end group as a whole) will see increased use this season, but Seither came in the clutch last year.
Who’s New?
The Yellow Jackets stocked up the tight end room, adding four new players (two recruits and two transfers).
Starting with the transfers, we have Yale-transfer Jackson Hawes and Mississippi State-transfer Ryland Goede. Both were used sparingly but seem to have some starting experience. Hawes earned second team all-Ivy League recognition in 2022, and Goede made 7 starts last year for Mississippi State.
Coming from high school are Luke Harpring (Marist) and David Prince (Glynn Academy). Notably, Harpring was a 4-star tight end and ranked as the 15th-best tight end in the whole class this last cycle.
Harpring’s film shows a little bit of everything. We see him go up and make contested receptions. He carries people into the endzone on him. We even get to see him on some end around plays, which is a lot of fun. He moves very well for his size. The biggest adjustment for him—I think—will be playing against people who are closer to his size.
Prince’s film is really interesting because he played a much more traditional wide receiver role in high school. He is a physical receiver, though. He isn’t the fastest guy on the field, but he still had a bit of a knack for getting behind the defense, and that could bode very well.
Season Outlook
Thus far, this is the position group with the most change from last year, and at this point the one that I’m the most unsure of (though that will change for sure when we get to the defense). Overall, I still expect this group to mostly do what it needs to. Hopefully, they just don’t have any key drops this season.
Projected Depth Chart:
- Brett Seither
- Jackson Hawes OR Ryland Goede
- Luke Harpring (Redshirt)
- David Prince (Redshirt)