MIKE MAYOCK'S CHOSEN FEW
KYLE RUDOLPH6-6, 259, Notre DameCaught 90 passes for 1,032 yards and eight touchdowns in two-plus seasons…Got off to a sizzling start in 2010 - 28 catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns – before a hamstring injury cost him the final seven games of the season…Considered a capable blocker…In 2008, became first true freshman in school history to start the opener at tight end.
LANCE KENDRICKS6-3, 243, WisconsinFirst-team All-America in 2010 after more than doubling the numbers posted over first two seasons…Caught 43 passes for 663 yards and five touchdowns last season to bring career totals to 78 catches for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns…Struggled with measurables at NFL Scouting Combine but bounced back at Wisconsin's pro day.
LUKE STOCKER6-5, 258, TennesseeCaught 85 balls for 956 yards and eight touchdowns in four seasons, the last two as a starter…Contributed despite some significant depth at the position and having to play under three head coaches…Solid if not spectacular in all the skills required of an NFL tight end.
D.J. WILLIAMS6-2, 245, ArkansasThe most eye-popping career numbers of the top tight end prospects, with 149 receptions for 1,831 yards and 10 touchdowns…Looks and plays like a receiver, capable of creating matchup problems…Could have problems blocking in the NFL given relative lack of size and strength.
VIRGIL GREEN6-3, 249, NevadaBlew away scouts with performance at the NFL Scouting Combine…Vertical leap of 42.5 inches and broad jump of 10-10 were second-best marks for a tight end at the combine since 2000…Caught 71 passes for 911 yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons…More of a receiver than a blocker.
STRICKLAND'S SECOND LOOK
JORDAN CAMERON6-5, 254, Southern CaliforniaDidn't catch a college pass until last season, but is catching on with scouts because of rare combination of speed and strength…Played basketball at Brigham Young before transferring to Southern Cal and spending two seasons as a reserve wide receiver…Moved to tight end last season and caught 16 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown.
ROB HOUSLER6-5, 248, Florida AtlanticCaught scouts' eyes with a 4.46 in the 40 and a 37-inch vertical at the NFL Scouting Combine…Grabbed 71 balls for 1,148 yards and eight touchdowns in last two seasons of play…Redshirted in 2009 because FAU had lots of senior depth at tight end.
ANDRE SMITH6-5, 269, Virginia TechThe only block-first tight end among the top prospects in the class but also displays a knack for big plays near the end zone…Caught 20 passes as a senior, and five of them went for touchdowns…The last time a Virginia Tech tight end scored more TDs was in 2004, when Panthers tight end Jeff King scored six times.
