Welcome to NFL Draft week! Once again the Cincinnati Bearcats will have the opportunity to send a few players to the pros. So over the next couple of days Bearcats Nation will be evaluating these prospects and their chances of being among the lucky 250 or so to get their name called later this week. First up, UC’s starting tight end.
Travis Kelce had an exceptional 2012 season for the Bearcats. He led Cincinnati in receiving yards (722) and receiving touchdowns (8). Considering he operated out of the tight end position, that’s a phenomenal feat to reach. Among other tight ends around college football Kelce was 4th in reception yards and touchdowns this past season. He put a stamp on it with an 83 yard touchdown catch to put Cincinnati on top of Duke in the Belk Bowl. So it’s no wonder why Kelce has been one of the fastest rising prospects in this year’s class. Plus he’s the only Bearcat who is 100% assured to get a phone call from a NFL organization sometime during the draft period.
STRENGTHS
- Resume
- Size-Speed
- Versatility
One of the best things going for Travis Kelce heading into the NFL Draft is that he’s a proven commodity. His 722 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns surely caught the attention of the front offices of many pro teams. Those numbers truly showed that the college game has slowed down for him and he’s ready for the next level. Additionally when scouts started paying attention to him more closely they soon realized that Kelce boasts an excellent blend of size and speed. At 6’6″ he’s an good target for quarterbacks to find downfield and he can easily snag jumpballs over smaller defensive backs. Plus his 260 lbs frame makes it difficult for defenders to get a hold of him once he does make a reception. Given his size it’s surprising just how much ability he has to stretch the field with his speed. At Cincinnati, Kelce routinely created mismatches for quarterbacks to exploit with that size-speed combination. As such, former offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian utilized him in a number of ways, lining him out wide like a receiver and along line like a traditional tight end. It was all a ploy to draw out his potential and many times it worked to perfection.
WEAKNESSES
- Questionable Character
Physically Travis Kelce is an impressive prospect at the tight end position that has caught the eye of the NFL. However his mysterious suspension from the 2011 season drew the attention of pro squads as well. The reasons for why Butch Jones nearly kicked him off the team permanently haven’t been made public. However you can bet it was something serious to force the coach to go so far as to prohibit him from being on the team for a whole year. By all accounts Kelce is back on the straight and narrow but that suspension has certainly raised some red flags.
PROJECTED ROUND(S)/LIKELY TEAM(S)
- 2nd – 4th
- Everybody
Each and every NFL team wants Travis Kelce. All 32 were present at Cincinnati’s Pro Day and all were deeply interested in the UC tight end. Like I mentioned, he’ll be selected this week and the only uncertainty is by who and when. In all likelihood Kelce won’t hear his name called in the 1st round on Thursday night. However a selection in the high-2nd round is definitely a possibility. And if Kelce were to fall in the NFL Draft it won’t be further than the 4th round. His skills and upside make him one of the most valuable players coming out of college so we’ll just have to wait and see where he winds up.
HIGHLIGHTS
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