As July winds down, a large number of prospects have either committed or have cut their lists down to a handful of teams. In this article, we will be taking a deep dive into what I believe to be the best tight-end classes of the 2024 recruiting cycle so far.
Michigan
Michigan has been having an excellent year on the recruiting trail so far. They’re looking to put together their best class since 2017, where they finished fifth in the country with a composite score of 296.03. Let’s take a look at who they have committed at tight end.
Brady Prieskorn
The Rochester, MI product decided to stay at home, committing to the Wolverines back in late April. Prieskorn is listed as the #71 overall prospect in the 2024 class (#6 TE). 247 analyst Allen Trieu describes Prieskorn as a player that possesses an all-around skill set that is a “physical, willing blocker” that “can catch the ball like a wide receiver.” The 6-6, 225-pounder hauled in 24 catches for 648 yards and ten touchdowns last season for Adams High School. Once he puts on some weight, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in Ann-Arbor.
Hogan Hansen
Hogan Hansen is an excellent blocker at the tight end position, and that’s exactly what Michigan needed out of their TE2 of the class. He plays in a run-heavy offense at Bellevue High School in Washington and has put his run-blocking ability on tape time and again. He comes in as the #199 overall player in the class (#12 TE). He doesn’t have a ton of opportunities to put his pass-catching ability on tape though, which could be a concern. However, with Prieskorn committed, Hansen will have a role carved out as a dominant blocker in the run game, especially near the goal line.
Southern California
USC has put together a very good tight-end class this cycle, which should come as no surprise considering Lincoln Riley’s ability to recruit offensive talent. Let’s take a quick look at who the Trojans have received commitments from at the tight-end position.
Walter Matthews
USC needed a big, tall pass catcher that can make contested catches over the middle of the field, and that’s exactly what they got in Walter Matthews. The 6-7, 245-pounder out of Hiram, GA is a behemoth that displays great pass-catching ability. He put up 425 yards and eight touchdowns in ten games for Hiram while lining up both as a tight end and as a wide receiver. The #114 player in the class (#9 TE) has the potential to make an impact early in Los Angeles. I’m excited to see what he can accomplish in his collegiate career.
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Joey Olsen
Joey Olsen primarily plays as a receiver at the high school level, but at 6-5, 220-pounds, many project him as a tight end at the next level. Olsen is the #274 overall player in the 2024 class (#16 TE) and is the longest-standing commit in USC’s 2024 class, committing to the Trojans all the way back in September of 2022. He’s a big presence in the passing game, but he’ll naturally need to work on his blocking since he’s been playing receiver. Still, Olsen has a high ceiling, and in all likelihood will be an excellent red-zone threat for USC.
Nebraska
Matt Rhule is looking to revitalize Nebraska in a big way, and he’s off to a great start so far, at least on the recruiting trail. He’s landed several high-profile commits in the 2024 cycle, with the tight-end class perhaps being the best of any position group. Let’s see who the Cornhuskers have landed so far at the tight end position.
Carter Nelson
Carter Nelson is Nebraska’s highest-rated commit in the 2024 class, and it isn’t hard to see why. Rated as the #82 overall player in the 2024 class (#7 TE), Nelson is an extremely versatile player that takes snaps in all three phases of the game. He also plays basketball and competes in track. Standing in at 6-4, 205 pounds, Nelson is a fantastic athlete that absolutely dominates at the high school level. On offense, Nelson put up 1,286 combined yards (rushing and receiving) and accounted for 25 total touchdowns. On defense, he intercepted six passes and had 41 tackles. He plays eight-man football which could hinder his ability to adjust at the next level, but Nelson has arguably the highest ceiling as a tight end in the class. Time will tell, but I believe that Nelson will be a household name for Nebraska fans in the future
Ian Flynt
Although he doesn’t have flashy receiving numbers, Ian Flynt can be a solid piece for Nebraska, especially as a blocker. The 6-4, 245-pound tight end out of Taylor high school in Katy, TX is ranked as the #589 player in the 2024 class (#31 TE). Similar to Hogan Hansen at Michigan, I believe that Flynt was brought in to be an excellent blocker in heavy packages. We’ll see how he develops, but I think Flynt could be a solid player that fills his role well.
