Harold Fannin Jr. isn’t your typical tight end. Standing on the lighter side for the position, the Bowling Green Falcons standout put up fantastic college receiving numbers. An elite receiving threat who earned College Sports Network’s Tight End of the Year and Biletnikoff Award votes, has Fannin done enough to woo NFL suitors?
Elite tight ends are hard to find. Does Fanning have what it takes to produce early in his NFL career. Read on to find out in our Harold Fannin Jr. scouting report.
Harold Fannin Jr. Scouting Report
Size: 6’3 1/8″, 238 pounds, 77 7/8″ wingspan, 9 3/8″ hand, 33 1/8″ arm (Senior Bowl Verified)
Key Stat: First player over 200 pounds with > 850 yards after the catch in a season since Amari Cooper (2014)
Projected Role: Starting “big slot” or receiving-heavy tight end
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Strengths:
- Strong hands, reliable pass-catcher (Just five career drops)
- Well above-average ability after the catch; averaged 8.1 yards after catch after reception on 180 career receptions.
- Advanced route-runner and separator; sells routes as well as any tight end you’ll see
- Willing run-blocker, solid leg drive; technically-sound blocker with good hand-placement and understanding of blocking assignments
- Excelled despite being team’s primary option (35.7% target share)
- Underappreciated contested catch ability
Areas of Concern:
- Undersized for traditional tight end role
- Week-to-week competition questions
- Inconsistency against press coverage
- Large percentage of touches were schemed (32 catches at or behind the line-of-scrimmage in 2024)
Ceiling: Pro-Bowl Receiving Tight End
Floor: Slot option limited to schemed touches
Harold Fannin Jr. NFL Draft Outlook
While there’s a wide range between Harold Fannin’s floor and ceiling, I’m inclined to believe that there’s a far greater chance that he approaches his full potential than there is that he’s limited to a niche role.
Fannin is an elite “Big Slot” receiver, which would have been concerning 10 years ago. However, even though his 38.3% in-line percentage on pass snaps in 2024 was actually higher than 22 NFL tight ends, including guys like Mark Andrews and Brock Bowers.
This isn’t your father’s NFL and Fannin should benefit from the fact that pro offenses are more spread out than ever. Blocking isn’t the primary function of a modern tight end. Rather, teams want “big slot” receivers who can split out wide and make plays in space. Fannin excels there.
But it’s not like Fannin is a poor run-blocker. There are, of course, some size and strength limitations, but even the best blocking tight ends aren’t taking on today’s edge rushers one-on-one. At the Senior Bowl, Fannin turned heads with his blocking upside.
Fannin played in the MAC, but torched Power Four defenses, catching 19 passes for 282 yards over the course of two weeks against the Penn State Nittany Lions and Texas A&M Aggies enroute to setting the record for single-season receiving yardage for a college tight end (1,555 yards)
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He excels after the catch and though plenty of his touches were schemed, that’s not going to stop in the NFL. He didn’t run a full route tree at Bowling Green but there’s nothing in his profile to suggest he’ll have any limitations as a route-runner.
In fact, he’s one of the best route-running tight ends in the last several cycles, besting guys like Kyle Pitts and challenging Bowers.
His release package is fine, and likely an early area of focus with his future NFL team, but there’s not much that separates him from some of the better receiving tight ends in the league.
Bottom Line: While Fannin’s route tree has been limited, there’s nothing in his profile to suggest he can’t run a full collection of routes. The routes he has shown are done with precision and suddenness that frustrate defenders. Due to his size, he’s never going to be an elite blocker, but he doesn’t have to be to be an elite player.
Players with his size, speed, and playmaking ability are rare and teams that are seeking a dynamic receiving tight end will fight over him on draft day. The upside is tremendous here, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s a star from Day 1.
Draft Projection: Late Round 1 – Mid-round 2
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