College Football: Tight Ends replacing NFL rookies
By Talon Graff
![GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Tight end Mike Gesicki GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Tight end Mike Gesicki](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/fd1455ef8d3972376addeb6b95c0ecc1d3815999cfd19a62712900a38876e587.jpg)
Oklahoma – Grant Calcaterra (Sophomore)
The Baltimore Ravens took two tight ends in the first three rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. Mentioned earlier, South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst went in the first round and then in the third round, Baltimore brought in Oklahoma’s playmaking tight end Mark Andrews.
He was the favorite target of number one overall selection Baker Mayfield and last year he caught 62 passes for 958 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a large part of the passing game for the Sooners and he will be missed.
Grant Calcaterra spent his freshman season in Norman in a reserve role behind Andrews, but he was still able to bring in three touchdowns on 10 catches for 162 yards. He is poised to break out in 2018 and he hopes to form the same type of chemistry that Mayfield and Andrews had with the new starting Sooner quarterback, Kyler Murray.
The highlight of Calcaterra’s freshman season came on a touchdown grab in the back of the endzone against conference foe TCU.
"Grant Calcaterra went up and just ripped it down!" - @gusjohnson pic.twitter.com/zIDTu8HTMm
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 12, 2017
The very athletic 6’4, 220-pound sophomore will step right into the same role that Andrews played in Lincoln Riley’s offense. Murray to Calcaterra could be a huge factor in the race for the Big 12 Championships.