The college football season is almost over, so FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Brock Bowers.
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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Brock Bowers
Brock Bowers (TE – Georgia)
6’4” – 240 lbs.
Background:
California native from an athletic family. Senior season was canceled, but was still a four-star recruit who stepped right into a starting role as a true freshman after Darnell Washington was injured. Finished with 56-882-13 (15.8) en route to second-team All-American honors. Helped the Bulldogs repeat as champions the following year, winning the Mackey Award with a 63-942-7 (15.0) line. Sprained his ankle this year and underwent tightrope surgery, returning after a few weeks. Has 56-714-6 (12.8) heading into the bowl game.
Positives:
Incredibly productive over the past three years for college’s premier program. Lines up all over the field, most often from the slot but also as an H-Back, an inline option, or even occasionally split out wide. Also frequently sent in motion. Gives very good effort as a blocker. Shows more impressive functional strength than anticipated, with excellent leg drive and solid extension to generate movement. Lines up defenders well when stalking from the slot, showing understanding of positioning. Stays on course vs. physical opponents. Shows very good speed on seams and runaways, like over routes. Snaps off routes at the stem. Settles into soft spots against zone. Makes excellent adjustments to throws away from his body, showing impressive body control and the aggressiveness to high-point; the team liked to throw back-shoulder fades to him near the end zone. Hands-catcher who has the ability to make some circus catches, showing good concentration. Physical, dynamic, galloping runner with the ball in his hands, and the team tries to scheme him touches (pop passes, shovels, reverses, screens, etc.) Has good vision, contact balance, and leg drive, averaging 8.5 YAC per reception heading into the bowl game. Also has five career rushing touchdowns on nineteen carries.
Negatives:
Has solid size, but isn’t the biggest tight end; brings down almost everything inside his frame, but isn’t a massive target. Frame is somewhat linear. Has some tendency to get overly aggressive as a blocker, leading to him playing outside his frame and falling off of some opponents. Needs to be more consistent about keeping his head up and his hands inside. Metrics dipped a bit across the board this year. Ankle injury will require further pre-draft investigation.
Summary:
The most versatile tight end prospect in some time, Bowers did a bit of everything in school, lining up all over the formation and showing an excellent combination of functional strength, athleticism, speed, receiving skills, and dynamism with the ball in his hands. More importantly, he should be able to continue executing those various responsibilities at the pro level. That should make him a high first-round pick, assuming everything checks out with his ankle. Will certainly be the top tight end off the board.
Projection: Round 1
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