Georgia’s Brock Bowers has been the preeminent tight end in the conference the last three seasons, but his departure to the NFL allows room for a new leader in the 2024 SEC TE Rankings. A few transfers dot the list, but the top five are comprised of returning do-it-all stars.
SEC 2024 TE Rankings
10) Bauer Sharp and Jake Roberts, Oklahoma
Oklahoma didn’t utilize the TE position much last season. Still, they put an emphasis on the position this offseason, luring in two transfers in SE Louisiana’s Bauer Sharp and Baylor’s Jake Roberts.
Sharp is the better pure pass catcher of the two, able to make tacklers miss in the open field. However, Roberts makes up for his lack of athleticism as a blocker, both in the ground game and in pass protection.
9) Arlis Boardingham, Florida
A modern tight end, Arlis Boardingham can line up in the slot and out wide and serve as a receiving weapon. That’s particularly important at Florida, where Graham Mertz had conference-low average depth of target and did his best to keep the ball out of harm’s way.
The 2023 season was Boardingham’s first with significant snaps, and he should only improve in his redshirt sophomore campaign.
8) Joshua Simon and Brady Hunt, South Carolina
With Trey Knox gone, Joshua Simon has the chance to take hold of the TE room. He arguably outplayed Knox last season, exhibiting sure hands and after-the-catch wiggle.
Yet, Brady Hunt joins Simon after missing all of 2023 due to an ankle injury. Assuming he’s fully healthy, he’ll threaten Simon for the lead role, as in 2022, Hunt reeled in 46 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns.
7) Tre Watson, Texas A&M Aggies
Both Jake Johnson and Max Wright have left College Station, forcing the Aggies to bring in reinforcements from the transfer portal. Tre Watson split his time inline and in the slot for Fresno State last season, but at Texas A&M, he’ll operate in tight formation more often. That should afford him better matchups against linebackers, allowing his short-area athleticism to shine.
6) Mason Taylor, LSU Tigers
While the WRs have been all the rage at LSU the last two years, Mason Taylor has been as reliable as they come, recording 762 yards and four scores on 74 receptions.
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A true junior, he could see an uptick in targets this season with Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. off to the NFL. The Tigers have largely deployed Taylor as an underneath weapon; perhaps they’ll allow him to work downfield in 2024.
5) Luke Hasz, Arkansas Razorbacks
Luke Hasz played in just five games as a true freshman, but the sample size was enough to warrant a top-five spot in the 2024 SEC TE Rankings. Three of his 16 receptions went for TDs, and eight picked up first downs.
Hasz even came down with a couple of contested catches and picked up much of his 253 yards on downfield receptions. A full season could vault him up to the top-three territory.
4) Oscar Delp and Benjamin Yurosek, Georgia Bulldogs
Even behind Bowers, Oscar Delp flashed his skill set, taking 24 receptions for 284 yards and three scores in 2023. He’ll be featured more in 2024, but he isn’t the only Georgia TE to know.
The Bulldogs added Benjamin Yurosek from Stanford, and while his numbers have dwindled in three consecutive seasons, he has shown the ability to take over games (See: Week 1 vs. Hawaii last year).
3) Amari Niblack, Texas Longhorns
Coming over from Alabama, Amari Niblack looks to fill the Ja’Tavion Sanders role in the Longhorns’ offense. Jalen Milroe’s legs took targets away from his pass catchers, and he isn’t as accurate of a QB as Quinn Ewers is. Head coach Steve Sarkisian will put Niblack in a position to succeed, and he has the physical tools to capitalize.
2) Caden Prieskorn and Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss Rebels
If this list was based on potential alone, Ole Miss’ duo would rank No. 1. Caden Prieskorn played in 10 games after transferring in from Memphis, recording 30 receptions, 449 yards, and four scores. He won’t break many tackles or thrive outside the confines of the scheme, but he fits Lane Kiffin’s offense well and is a big target for Jaxson Dart.
Yet, the Rebels also acquired the services of Virginia Tech’s Dae’Quan Wright. A former basketball player, Wright’s balance and athleticism are more akin to a WR than a TE, and he is yet another chess piece Kiffin can work with this fall.
1) Rivaldo Fairweather, Auburn Tigers
Payton Thorne isn’t an exciting quarterback to watch usually, but that’s not the case when he throws to Rivaldo Fairweather. The passing game was stale, forcing Fairweather to create space for himself.
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Seemingly every game, he came down with a contested catch (usually the result of an ill-placed pass rather than a lack of separation). He can clean up some drops, but with new OC Derrick Nix coming over from Ole Miss and an upgraded WR room, expect Fairweather to be even better in 2024.
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