TJ and Fant ???
- Thread starter JoelBittner
- Start date
I might be biased but I think they're going to be a top duo in the nation let alone the best in the B1G
Yes they are tops in the Country and the B1G. Fant is the best in the country and Hock is top 10 in the country. Anyway you slice it Iowa is also Tight End U!
If, whether reality or not, TJ and Fant get to the point where they are considered at least "good" run blockers.....they will both be early, early draft choices. I think they need to have some film in 2018 that shows they are willing and able to be feisty and spicy at the line of scrimmage on run plays. That will be the difference in my opinion.
TJ is a decent blocker already. I think teams overlooked him early on (a mistake) because he was viewed as primarily a run blocker and also in part because Fant was a known pass catcher. But maybe I'm wrong on that. Either way, if Fant can really bloom as a blocker, the offense just becomes that much more unpredictable (and he really increases his draft stock).
As I posted above, that is pretty much how I see it as well. This year could really boost their draft stock, but they need some film on blocking and still maintain their receiving #'s.
The only other 2 programs that return formidable duos are:
Michigan - return Gentry and McKeon
Purdue - return Hopkins and Herdman
Each program, Iowa, Michigan, and Purdue return duos who return guys who each have around 300+ yards. The big question perhaps will boil down to blocking. My guess is that Brohm is a guy who is pretty sharp as it relates to scheming his offense to find mismatches - thus, that will be to the benefit of his TEs. Harbaugh and Co have a good track record of developing TEs ... and the guys know how to block too. I'm split as to what to expect for the Michigan TEs because their WR and QB situation was such a mess in 2017 ... that made the safety blanket that TEs afford an attractive option for the QBs. Given that the WRs will be a year more experienced ... perhaps more passes will go towards WRs in '18 (and that will take away from targets to the TEs).
Fant's TD and yardage production is the best ... but his blocking may potentially be the weakest too. We'll see how his game develops ... because he's seemingly the guy with one of the highest ceilings (in terms of potential).
Michigan - return Gentry and McKeon
Purdue - return Hopkins and Herdman
Each program, Iowa, Michigan, and Purdue return duos who return guys who each have around 300+ yards. The big question perhaps will boil down to blocking. My guess is that Brohm is a guy who is pretty sharp as it relates to scheming his offense to find mismatches - thus, that will be to the benefit of his TEs. Harbaugh and Co have a good track record of developing TEs ... and the guys know how to block too. I'm split as to what to expect for the Michigan TEs because their WR and QB situation was such a mess in 2017 ... that made the safety blanket that TEs afford an attractive option for the QBs. Given that the WRs will be a year more experienced ... perhaps more passes will go towards WRs in '18 (and that will take away from targets to the TEs).
Fant's TD and yardage production is the best ... but his blocking may potentially be the weakest too. We'll see how his game develops ... because he's seemingly the guy with one of the highest ceilings (in terms of potential).
Are you saying he is better than Ahmad Wagner?
Already I miss Ahmad.Over and Under odds he plays in Nfl? Natural skills! Odd he not on fb team. Next as they say.Go Hawks.
Same could be said about our DE’s this upcoming season. Two of the elite pass rushers in the nation last year.
I expect the offensive line to be good.
I expect the defensive line to be elite. I just pray Parker dials up more blitzes.
For those who didn't vote guess what the results were?
******spoiler alert*******
94% said best in the B1G.
And one person said they have a "lot of room for improvement"
******spoiler alert*******
94% said best in the B1G.
And one person said they have a "lot of room for improvement"
Guilty! I agree that they're going to be the best returning duo in the B1G. However, the thing that I think is most exciting about the two guys is that they're capable of BOTH being elite TEs for us! That is a pretty remarkable scenario! Imagine an alternative reality where we had Dallas Clark and Scott Chandler as a returning duo of TEs on the O ... that isn't that far from what we could have in Fant and Hock!For those who didn't vote guess what the results were?
******spoiler alert*******
94% said best in the B1G.
And one person said they have a "lot of room for improvement"
Logan Lee doing well at the Opening Ohio. The Great Iowa TE tradition continues.
I wouldn't want to get too far ahead in projecting. Wagner has a big hill to climb for playing time at Kentucky. Stoops signed two highly regarded TEs this spring - Keaton Upshaw and Brandon Bates, two big guys out of Ohio. You may recall that Bates had an Iowa offer and was heavily recruited by Iowa assistant Kelvin Bell.
You also have to factor in the rust / inexperience factor. Almost 5 years will have expired from the time when Wagner is eligible and when he played his last (high school) football game.
I wish Wagner the best. The odds of an NFL career? Very steep IMO. It thought that Wagner should have gone to an FCS school with a potent passing scheme that incorporates their TEs. Will be watching to see how he does in the SEC.
"It was a great tight end crop, and on this day nobody performed better than Orion (Ill.) High standout and Iowa commit Logan Lee. A state qualifier in wrestling this past winter in the heavyweight division, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Lee was dominant in 1-on-1 blocking drills before getting the Gronk treatment in 1-on-1s as defensive backs tried to grab and hold him to prevent him from catching the ball downfield. Lee tracks the football well, has strong hands and because of his ability to block, he’ll be tough to keep off the field in year one in Iowa City, especially if Noah Fant declares for the NFL Draft following the upcoming season. 247Sports bills the four-star Lee as the nation’s No. 11 tight end." credit Steve Wiltfong from article, Top Performers: The Opening Regional Ohio
I'm realizing that Lee will undoubtedly be a TE and has the ability to be a great reciever. I think the Gronk comparison will ring true in time. He is already a great blocker so that will be what gets him started off well at Iowa.
I'm realizing that Lee will undoubtedly be a TE and has the ability to be a great reciever. I think the Gronk comparison will ring true in time. He is already a great blocker so that will be what gets him started off well at Iowa.
This is what it looks like when I plagiarize from Harbinger.
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-15-tight-ends-2018
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-15-tight-ends-2018
Looks like some people outside us Hawkeyes are thinking they may be the best duo in the nation.
Boy wouldn't that be wonderful.
Was going to say that. Also like our pairs at offensive tackle, safety and hopefully RB. Not going to say WR till I see it.
Here's what Scott Dochterman thought about the subject two months ago:
https://www.landof10.com/iowa/iowa-football-te-combo-noah-fant-t-j-hockenson-best
https://www.landof10.com/iowa/iowa-football-te-combo-noah-fant-t-j-hockenson-best
Tj is a good blocker but can get held pretty easy. They are working in him to engage like a block then seperate.
Fant is almost the opposite. Hes quick enough and strong enough to engage then get free to run his route.
He needs to work on blocking.
ISU's honorable mention all Big 12 TE that caught 8 passes last year is clearly better than either of them.
Athlon's has them as the #1 and #14 tight ends in college football, respectively.
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-15-tight-ends-2018
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-15-tight-ends-2018
it is more important that we get more polls from you so that is how i voted!
#MorePollsPlease
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