Courtesy of bleacherreport.com, written by Dan Hope
Evan Rodriguez, Temple, East, Grade: Round 5-6
The West roster is the home for most of the tight-end talent in the Shrine Game, but the top prospect at the position in the game is on the East squad. Temple’s Evan Rodriguez is an H-back who can play both tight end and fullback. He is a solid blocker both on the line of scrimmage and as a lead-blocking fullback, and is a good receiver.
Although not nearly as athletic, Rodriguez compares to Aaron Hernandez in terms of his versatility, receiving skill and how he can be used on the field in various ways. He will not be the big playmaker that Hernandez is, but can be a solid, productive player for the team that drafts him.
Although not nearly as athletic, Rodriguez compares to Aaron Hernandez in terms of his versatility, receiving skill and how he can be used on the field in various ways. He will not be the big playmaker that Hernandez is, but can be a solid, productive player for the team that drafts him.
The draft prospects among the West tight ends consist of North Carolina State’s George Bryan, Oregon’s David Paulson and Michigan’s Kevin Koger, all worthy of being selected late in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Bryan is not much of an athlete, but he has great size (6’5’’, 265 pounds) and is a very solid blocker. He has been successful as a pass-catcher at North Carolina State, but his lack of speed will limit his impact as a receiver in the NFL. Bryan projects well as a third tight end for goal-line sets to be used as a blocking specialist and goal-line receiver.
Paulson is a skilled receiving tight end who had success in Oregon’s up-tempo offense. Paulson is undersized for the tight end position, but his receiving ability makes him a solid late-round prospect for a team with a West Coast offense.
Koger did not put up big numbers for the Wolverines, but he is a big tight end with athletic ability and good hands. He projects well to the next level and is worth taking a chance on late in the draft.
