TerrapinTimes.com - Category rankings: Tight ends

November 12, 2009

Rivals.com recruiting staff
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.

We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the tight ends.

TIGHT END RANKINGS: Fastest | Best hands | Best athlete | AMP: Tight ends with the best hands

FASTEST

5. Davis Dudchock, Birmingham (Ala.) Oak Mountain

Dudchock Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Vanderbilt
PARTICULARS: 6-4/225
BUZZ: Vanderbilt is getting good one in Dudchock. He used his 4.67 40-yard dash speed to average 15.2 yards per catch.

4. Xavier Grimble, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman

Grimble Highlights
COMMITTED TO: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-6/245
BUZZ: Grimble is the top tight end in the country. After viewing his highlight film, it's hard to believe he is 6 feet 6 and 245 pounds.

3. Randall Telfer, Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.)

Telfer Highlights
COMMITTED TO: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-4/220
BUZZ: This athletic tight end averaged 16.6 yards a catch, and he knows how to stretch the field. He'll be a threat for USC in the future.

2. Christian Thomas, Palmdale (Calif.) Highland

Thomas Highlights
CONSIDERING: List includes Oregon, LSU, Miami, UCLA, USC and Washington.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/235
BUZZ: Thomas, the No. 3 tight end in the nation, was able to average 21.8 yards a reception using his speed after the catch.

1. Gerald Christian, West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer

Christian Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Florida
PARTICULARS: 6-3/220
BUZZ: The Florida Gators commitment demonstrated extreme quickness and explosion while running routes at the Gridiron Kings.

BEST HANDS

5. Curtis White, Eugene (Ore.) Sheldon

White Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Oregon
PARTICULARS: 6-5/240
BUZZ: The Oregon commitment may have the most impressive film when it comes catching balls and turning up the field.

4. Gerald Christian, West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer

Christian Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Florida
PARTICULARS: 6-3/220
BUZZ: The No. 2 tight end in the country, Christian proved to have some of the best hands of any receiver at the Gridiron Kings.

3. Xavier Grimble, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman

Grimble Highlights
COMMITTED TO: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-6/245
BUZZ: This huge tight end proved he can use his hands to catch the ball away from his body at the Los Angeles Nike Camp.

2. Darius Terrell, DeSoto (Texas)

Terrell Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Texas
PARTICULARS: 6-2/205
BUZZ: The wide receiver turned hybrid tight end flashed excellent hands at the Fort Worth Nike Camp.

1. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Johnsburg (Ill.)

Fiedorowicz Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Illinois
PARTICULARS: 6-7/240
BUZZ: The Illinois commitment caught 49 passes for 809 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

BEST ATHLETE

5. Blake Barker, Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham Browne & Nichols

Barker Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Harvard
PARTICULARS: 6-6/230
BUZZ: Barker, who is headed to Harvard, is considered an elite lacrosse prospect; he had multiple offers in that sport as well.

4. Cordell Giles, Benoit (Miss.) Ray Brooks

COMMITTED TO: Mississippi State
PARTICULARS: 6-3/235
BUZZ: The two-way star used his overall athleticism to record 14 sacks last season while also being a serious threat in the red zone.

3. Kyle Baublitz, York (Pa.) Central York

Baublitz Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Penn State
PARTICULARS: 6-4/254
BUZZ: Even at 6 feet 4 and 260 pounds, Baublitz is still athletic enough to play linebacker on the defensive side of the ball.

2. Brian Vogler, Columbus (Ga.) Brookstone

Vogler Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Alabama
PARTICULARS: 6-7/248
BUZZ: This AAU basketball star once thought about a college career in hoops. Instead, he has committed to play for Nick Saban at Alabama.

1. Curtis White, Eugene (Ore.) Sheldon

White Highlights
COMMITTED TO: Oregon
PARTICULARS: 6-5/240
BUZZ: The two-way starter has shown his athleticism by also starring his high school basketball team.

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