2007 CFN All-Americans & Top Players - TEs

CFN 2007 All-Americans and Top 25 Players - Tight Ends

2007 CFN All-Americans

Tight Ends

CFN 2007 All-Americans and Top 25 Players
2007 Preview | Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers
Off. Tackles | Guards | Centers 

2007 CFN Preseason First Team All-American

Martin Rucker, Sr. Missouri
The 6-5, 255-pound Rucker was second on the team with 53 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns. While he's not quite the receiver that fellow tight end Chase Coffman is, he's a better blocker and better in the open field than his 9.6-yard-per-catch average would suggest. He's the all-around talent who'll be used in a variety of situations.
 

Preseason 25 Best Tight Ends
1. Martin Rucker, Sr. Missouri
2. Chase Coffman, Jr. Missouri
3. Travis Beckum, Jr. Wisconsin
4. Chris Hopkins, Sr. Toledo
5. Martellus Bennett, Jr. Texas A&M
6. Jermichael Finley, Soph. Texas
7. Cody Slate, Soph. Marshall
8. John Carlson, Sr. Notre Dame
9. Shawn Nelson, Jr. Southern Miss
10. Tom Santi, Jr. Virginia
11. Darius Hill, Jr. Ball State
12. Gary Barnidge, Sr. Louisville 
13. Craig Stevens, Sr. California
14. Joey Haynos, Sr. Maryland
15. Fred Davis, Sr. USC
16. Jacob Tamme, Sr. Kentucky
17. Kellen Davis, Sr. Michigan State
18. Eric Butler, Sr. Miss State
19. Kory Sperry, Sr., Colorado State
20. Nick Cleaver, Jr. New Mexico State
21. Zeek Zacharie, Jr. UL Monroe
22. Wade Betschart, Sr. Wyoming
23. Jack Simmons, Jr. Minnesota
24. Derek Fine, Sr. Kansas
25. Andrew Quarless, Soph. Penn State

2007 CFN Preseason Second Team All-American

Chase Coffman, Jr. Missouri
The 6-6, 245-pound Coffman, who led the team with 58 catches for 638 yards and nine touchdowns, is a strong enough receiver to be used as a big wide receiver at times. A matchup nightmare with soft hands, tremendous route running ability and the strength to fight off defenders, he's a great go-to target.

2007 CFN Honorable Mention All-Americans
(in alphabetical order)

Martellus Bennett, Jr. Texas A&M
A&M's leading returning receiver is Bennett, a 6-7, 253-pound athlete who grabbed 38 passes for 497 yards and three touchdowns as Stephen McGee's main go-to target when things got tight. He'll be in the hunt for All-America honors in a salary drive season that could make him one of the top tight ends taken in the 2008 NFL Draft. A member of the Aggie basketball team, he might not be a bigger Antonio Gates, but he's not far off when it comes to his athleticism.

Travis Beckum, Jr. Wisconsin
A former defensive end, the 6-4, 221-pound junior made a quick transition to the offense as he led the team with 61 catches for 903 yards and five touchdowns. A matchup nightmare, he's fast, strong and athletic, but he's been more of a large wide receiver than an actual tight end. Now he's looking to become more of a blocker, but if he's making catches like he did last year, no one will notice what he's doing for the running game.

John Carlson, Sr. Notre Dame
The star of the Irish passing game should be the 6-6, 259-pound Carlson, the team's leading returning receiver with 47 catches for 634 yards and four touchdowns. He was one of the nation's steadiest pass catching tight ends before getting hurt late in the year. Now he needs to be the go-to target early on until the receiving corps gets it feet wet

Jermichael Finley, Soph. Texas
Finley's the star in the making, who everyone's been waiting to explode, and should be in for a big year after catching 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Now up to 236 pounds on a 6-5 frame, he has NFL athleticism, nice hands, and wide receiver deep speed. He's not exactly a dominant blocker, but he should be better now that he's bigger.

Chris Hopkins, Sr. Toledo
Hopkins is a legitimate Mackey Award candidate who led the team with 54 catches for 565 yards and seven touchdowns. With great hands, fantastic route running ability and good blocking skills, the 6-5, 255-pound senior can do it all as long as he hangs on to the ball. If he catches everything that comes his way, he could be a 70-grab target.

Shawn Nelson, Jr. Southern Miss
With so much uncertainty at wide receiver for the Eagles, QB Jeremy Young is going to look for Nelson more than ever.  The junior’s production plateaued last year, which had more to do with an ankle injury, a broken bone in his hand and a new quarterback than anything else.  Built like a traditional tight end, Nelson has the speed to split seams and 71 catches for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns already on the resume.

Tom Santi, Jr. Virginia
Virginia's leading returning receiver is the 6-5, 250-pound Santi, a tough, physical blocker who has been a strong receiver from day one. While he's not a Heath Miller, and wasn't a deep threat last year after averaging 18.8 yards per catch in 2005, he's a nice route runner with sure hands.

Cody Slate, Soph. Marshall
Slate exploded for 43 catches for 684 yards and six touchdowns in his college debut.  Now 6-4 and nearly 230 pounds, he makes all the tough catches and has the wheels to create mismatches with most linebackers. He'll be Marshall's main receiving threat.