Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State: 2016 NFL Draft scouting report
2016 NFL Draft scouting report for Nick Vannett, the Ohio State Buckeyes tight end who could go even higher than his former teammate Jeff Heuerman, a third round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2015…
The Ohio State Buckeyes are ridiculously talented, and players like Nick Vannett are going to slip through the cracks because of it.
If Vannett had played in an offense that utilized the tight ends differently than the run-dominant Ohio State Buckeyes, he would probably be a no-brainer first or second round pick. As it were, he’s going to have to prove himself in workouts and hope NFL teams see the translatable traits.
Let’s take a closer look…
At a Glance
Name: Nick Vannett
Ht: 6-6
Wt: 260 pounds
Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Westerville, OH
Career Highlights
Career-high five TD catches in 2014
Played in 53 games during Ohio St. Career
2014 National Champion
Prospect Video
Translatable NFL traits
1. All-around player
If you play TE at Ohio State, you have to be able to do everything. In the video above, which is merely five minutes of cutup, you will see Vannett do everything from pass protect to show off his run after the catch ability. He is a versatile weapon because of another trait we’ll talk about later, but he can literally do it all from the TE position, and that’s a really positive sign moving to the next level.
As was previously stated, it’s tough for Vannett because he wasn’t ‘featured’ at Ohio State as a prominent pass catcher, but he did enough over the course of his career to show NFL scouts what he’s capable of, and I love what I’ve seen.
Soft hands, the ability to run block, and he can stay in and pass protect. Vannett moves around as an H-back, a wide receiver, a slot receiver, and an in-line tight end who can run routes or block from any spot. He identifies the players he’s trying to block, and he attacks. He’s physical and uses his length really well in the blocking game.
I love his all-around game and its ability to translate to the NFL.
2. Athleticism
I alluded to this earlier, but the athleticism at 6-6 260 pounds is the #1 reason I would like to see more of what Vannett can do as a receiver and ‘move’ TE. He can obviously block, so you can play him basically anywhere, but he is a mismatch because of his size and speed, and you can see that in the Michigan game above that he is able to move after the catch really well and get himself open.
At his size, if he can run well at the Combine or his pro day, he’s going to make it impossible for NFL scouts to not pound the table for their GM to draft him.
Vannett has high upside
You have to believe a player with his measurables, experience on a championship team, as well as the way he’s so well-versed in so many different areas as a tight end give him high upside at the next level. We have seen soft hands, we have seen run after the catch ability, and of course — more than anything — we’ve seen his ability to block, both in the running game and in the passing game.
I think if you are talking about the lack of depth at TE in this draft, this is a guy who can be a gem in the middle rounds unless some team sees enough upside to make him a top 64 selection.