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As the summer moves along and the season begins to creep closer and closer, we thought it’d be fun to take a look at who stands above the rest in certain attributes within each position group in the form of superlatives.
Tight End U sent another off to the NFL and the Miami Hurricanes are left searching for the next heir apparent to the throne. Spring struggles at the position did not inspire confidence, but there are two hungry and talented freshman that came in during summer ready to eat. Without further delay, here are the tight end superlatives going into the 2018 season.
Most Valuable: Michael Irvin II
After just an okay spring, I’m not really comfortable putting Irvin II as the most valuable of anything and this could easily change by the end of fall camp, but this list isn’t based on projection and he is really the only choice right now. With two true freshman that nobody has ever seen play at the college level and Brian Polendey seeing zero important reps last year and struggling this spring, Irvin II is the only tight end on the roster that brings any meaningful experience to this season’s team.
Playmaker Jr. recorded 9 catches for 78 yards last season in mainly a back-up role to the since departed Christopher Herndon IV, but Irvin II actually started in two of Miami’s most important games last season against Clemson and Wisconsin. In those starts, Irvin II proved he could at least be serviceable, recording four catches against good defenses in games where his QB had awful performances and generally holding his own as a blocker. Now an upperclassman, Irvin II will be tasked with holding the full-time TE job, and at the least can be a valuable and experienced back-up if someone else breaks out. If the freshmen aren’t quite ready for the big time as rookies, an injury to Irvin II would be disastrous for the position.
Best Hands: Brevin Jordan
Coming in as a true freshman, Jordan will instantly be the most sure-handed TE target at Malik Rosier’s disposal in 2018. Based on the tight ends’ case of the drops this spring, the Bishop Gorman (NV) athlete will be a sight for sore eyes and has the potential to be a reliable safety valve in the middle of the field (and beyond) for Miami’s offense this season. Jordan rarely drops a pass and possesses impressive body control to make adjustments when the ball is in the air. The nation’s consensus #1 TE prospect already has a very developed game as equal parts receiver and blocker, and Jordan also has some wiggle in the open field as well. I would be surprised if he’s not ready to make an impact in Year 1 at Miami.
Most Athletic: Will Mallory
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you don’t see many football players move as fluid as Mallory does with his 6’5” frame. Mallory can make a linebacker look silly just as easily as he can blow by a defensive back. He’s simply a rare athlete, and the Providence (FL) star also captured FHSAA 1A Region 1 titles in the 110-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash, with times of 15.22 and 11.00. At only 230 pounds, Mallory must continue to put on the necessary weight, but there’s no doubt his potential is as high as the stars.
Most to Prove: Brian Polendey
While Irvin II has shown he can at the least be serviceable in UM’s offense, Polendey has yet to prove he even belongs at Miami. Coming from a run-heavy high school offense at Guyer (TX), Polendey was always going to be a project of sorts, but his athletic 6’6” frame was enough to get Todd Hartley wondering what could be. A year and a spring into his college career, it’s been nothing doing for the Lone Star state product. Polendey is an aggressive blocker, but currently at 245 pounds with his long frame, he still needs to put on more weight to hold up as an in-line tight end and truly be a consistently effective blocker on every down. Judging by this spring, his hands still leave much to be desired as well. With the two-headed monster of Jordan and Mallory coming in, Polendey is at risk to lose ground on the depth chart and will be a transfer candidate if he doesn’t improve quickly.
As the summer moves along and the season begins to creep closer and closer, we thought it’d be fun to take a look at who stands above the rest in certain attributes within each position group in the form of superlatives.
Tight End U sent another off to the NFL and the Miami Hurricanes are left searching for the next heir apparent to the throne. Spring struggles at the position did not inspire confidence, but there are two hungry and talented freshman that came in during summer ready to eat. Without further delay, here are the tight end superlatives going into the 2018 season.
Most Valuable: Michael Irvin II
After just an okay spring, I’m not really comfortable putting Irvin II as the most valuable of anything and this could easily change by the end of fall camp, but this list isn’t based on projection and he is really the only choice right now. With two true freshman that nobody has ever seen play at the college level and Brian Polendey seeing zero important reps last year and struggling this spring, Irvin II is the only tight end on the roster that brings any meaningful experience to this season’s team.
Playmaker Jr. recorded 9 catches for 78 yards last season in mainly a back-up role to the since departed Christopher Herndon IV, but Irvin II actually started in two of Miami’s most important games last season against Clemson and Wisconsin. In those starts, Irvin II proved he could at least be serviceable, recording four catches against good defenses in games where his QB had awful performances and generally holding his own as a blocker. Now an upperclassman, Irvin II will be tasked with holding the full-time TE job, and at the least can be a valuable and experienced back-up if someone else breaks out. If the freshmen aren’t quite ready for the big time as rookies, an injury to Irvin II would be disastrous for the position.
Best Hands: Brevin Jordan
Coming in as a true freshman, Jordan will instantly be the most sure-handed TE target at Malik Rosier’s disposal in 2018. Based on the tight ends’ case of the drops this spring, the Bishop Gorman (NV) athlete will be a sight for sore eyes and has the potential to be a reliable safety valve in the middle of the field (and beyond) for Miami’s offense this season. Jordan rarely drops a pass and possesses impressive body control to make adjustments when the ball is in the air. The nation’s consensus #1 TE prospect already has a very developed game as equal parts receiver and blocker, and Jordan also has some wiggle in the open field as well. I would be surprised if he’s not ready to make an impact in Year 1 at Miami.
Most Athletic: Will Mallory
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you don’t see many football players move as fluid as Mallory does with his 6’5” frame. Mallory can make a linebacker look silly just as easily as he can blow by a defensive back. He’s simply a rare athlete, and the Providence (FL) star also captured FHSAA 1A Region 1 titles in the 110-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash, with times of 15.22 and 11.00. At only 230 pounds, Mallory must continue to put on the necessary weight, but there’s no doubt his potential is as high as the stars.
Most to Prove: Brian Polendey
While Irvin II has shown he can at the least be serviceable in UM’s offense, Polendey has yet to prove he even belongs at Miami. Coming from a run-heavy high school offense at Guyer (TX), Polendey was always going to be a project of sorts, but his athletic 6’6” frame was enough to get Todd Hartley wondering what could be. A year and a spring into his college career, it’s been nothing doing for the Lone Star state product. Polendey is an aggressive blocker, but currently at 245 pounds with his long frame, he still needs to put on more weight to hold up as an in-line tight end and truly be a consistently effective blocker on every down. Judging by this spring, his hands still leave much to be desired as well. With the two-headed monster of Jordan and Mallory coming in, Polendey is at risk to lose ground on the depth chart and will be a transfer candidate if he doesn’t improve quickly.
