TE PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
1st team: Brevin Jordan
2nd team: Will Mallory
3rd team: Michael Irvin
Tight End U just keeps churning out players into the NFL Draft, with David Njoku and Chris Herndon the most recent of a slew of players in the last 11 years that included Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham, Dedrick Epps, Clive Walford and Richard Gordon.
That’s an impressive list of talent … but this spring the cupboard was pretty bare at the spot.
UM’s only scholarship tight ends were Michael Irvin and Brian Polendey, and both have issues.
A former 3-star prospect, Irvin has never really showed he can make an impact. He got three starts last year (his first vs. Pitt after Herndon's injury) but had just nine catches for 78 yards and wasn't a consistent blocker. In the ACC title game he was a total nonfactor and had 18 receiving yards; vs. Wisconsin in his bowl game start he had one four-yard reception.
That's not the kind of production Mark Richt wants or UM has grown accustomed to from the guys at this position. And as a freshman, Irvin played off the bench in five games. After a quiet spring, the question begs if he'll ever reach a high enough level of play to make an impact especially with two elite prospects entering the mix in Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory.
Polendey? He saw action in six games on special teams and worked on the practice squad as a freshman in 2017. The former 3-star prospect dropped passes virtually every practice this spring ... even in early drills with no one in coverage. And his blocking hasn't been as strong as the Canes hoped.
So Irvin and Polendey don't seem to be legitimate answers at tight end.
That’s the bad news.
The good news?
Two of the nation’s most talented tight ends are now on campus - freshmen Jordan and Mallory. Tight ends coach Todd Hartley has already compared Jordan to a young Herndon and Mallory to a young Njoku.
Both were highly regarded recruits targeted by top programs around the nation. And we think they will emerge as the top two players on the depth chart this season … not just out of necessity, but based on what they can bring to the offense.
Mallory is a more traditional tight end with great athleticism. A consensus four-star prospect out of high school, he was listed as the nation's No. 8 tight end and No. 30 prospect in Florida by Rivals.com. Mallory showed off his receiving skills as a junior, grabbing 46 passes for 900 yards with 12 touchdowns. He had an injury-riddled senior year, finishing with 364 yards ... and in his first game coming back off injury he totaled 11 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns. If you need more signs of his talent level there's this: His offer list included Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia. Landing him was a major coup for Hartley & Co., and you can see why we believe he could jump right on up the depth chart in Year 1.
The same goes for Jordan, a consensus 4-star recruit who will be able to be used as an H-back in the passing game as well as a tight end. He was ranked the nation's No. 2 tight end by Rivals.com and - like Mallory - is an accomplished receiver. He had 63 catches for 1,111 yards and 13 TDs as a senior, including over 90 yards with a rushing score in his team's 48-7 state championship victory. Jordan finished his high school career with over 1,700 yards, 100 receptions and 29 total touchdowns. With 4.78 speed in the 40, he's athletic and poses a mismatch for linebackers and safeties. Jordan's other scholarship offers? The list included Georgia, FSU and Florida.
Yes, you can expect some freshman mistakes from the freshman pair. But Miami’s always played the best players, and they are it. By a wide margin.
The Tight End U tradition should keep going strong with Jordan and Mallory on board.
Want to peek ahead?
Miami’s already targeting more top talent to bring into the position next year, with Larry Hodges committed (other offers include Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia Tech) and the Canes making good headway with 4-star Keon Zipperer (Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, UF offers). Jalen Wydermyer also is in the picture, and we anticipate the Canes signing two to the Class of 2019.
And then there is the 2020 class, where commit Dominic Mammarelli could end up being one of the top tight ends in the country.
Needless to say, the State of The U at tight end is approaching the level that the receiver spot has attained.
