2021 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board: Tight Ends

SMU tight end Kylen Granson (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

The 2021 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board will be rolled out during the next week by position, featuring players to watch. Today, we continue with tight ends:

*NOTE: We at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl are disappointed for those players whose senior seasons have been disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In respect for those who may still play in 2021, we have altered our preseason Big Board to reflect only those seniors whose schools are actively preparing to play a fall season.

THREE TO WATCH

Miller Forristall, TE, Alabama:
Miller Forristall has a well-rounded skill set while having experience in the Crimson Tide’s “pro style” offense. The second-year starter is a very heady player who has done just about everything an offensive coordinator can ask: align all across the formation, block 6-techniques head-up, and stay in on 7-man protections to pass block, run routes and be a reliable pass catcher. Not the biggest, not the fastest, just effective at everything he does. One aspect of Forristall’s game that is particularly impressive and that does not show up on the stat sheet is his ability to adjust on the fly to pick up “color” in order to ensure the dangerous Alabama running backs have clear lanes to run through.

Kylen Granson, TE, SMU:
One of the most intriguing chess pieces in this year’s draft class is Kylen Granson of SMU who set a team tight end record last season with an impressive nine receiving touchdowns. A regional track qualifier at Austin, Texas’s renowned Westlake High School, SMU staff have timed the former Rice wide receiver in the 4.4s. Though not a prototypical “Y” type tight end at a shade under 6-3 and weighing 235 pounds, Granson battles inline blocking while not being afraid to stick his nose in the fire. The athletic mismatch poses issues for opposing defensive coordinators due to linebackers struggling with his speed and route running ability and safeties surrendering size.

Tony Poljan, TE, Virginia:
Standing at 6-7 and 265 pounds, new Cavalier tight end Tony Poljan has the distinction as being the biggest tight end prospect on this year’s preseason Big Board. A second-team All-MAC performer a season ago for the Chippewas, Poljan was a tri-sport athlete in high school who was named to Mr. Basketball Watch List prior to his senior season and opened his collegiate career at Central Michigan as a quarterback. With his long arms and frame, the Lansing, Michigan native is able to effectively cover-up defenders in the run game and box them out in the pass game, much like a center in basketball. True to his athletic background, Poljan possesses impressive ability to adjust to the flight of the ball as a receiver and owns soft hands to consistently snatch the ball away from his frame.

2021 NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL BIG BOARD: TIGHT ENDS