2019 NFL Draft: Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson emerging in 2018
Iowa Hawkeyes tight end T.J. Hockenson has been in Noah Fant’s shadow until his breakout sophomore campaign in 2018. The 2019 NFL Draft awaits.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have a long tradition of sending excellent tight ends, offensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs from the college ranks up to the NFL. Redshirt sophomore T.J. Hockenson — the team’s number two tight end behind Noah Fant — has had a breakout season that’s got NFL talent evaluators talking.
He showed out as a redshirt freshman for the Hawkeyes, as well.
In 2017, Hockenson caught 24 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns with the Hawkeyes. So far in 2018, he’s already caught 25 passes for 424 yards and three scores, along with a rushing touchdown of four yards.
At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Hockenson already has the body type the NFL covets at the tight end position. Playing at Iowa, he also has the skills NFL teams look for in terms of the ability to play in-line and split out.
He’s a big play threat, is smart after the catch, and has soft hands.
Because of how good Noah Fant is — and the first-round hype with him is legitimate — Hockenson hasn’t gotten his due credit at this point. He’s a phenomenal player who may have a tough decision to make after this season, as will Fant.
They are both underclassmen, playing on an Iowa team that has just one loss at the midway point of the season and is looking like an underrated CFP contender. The reason Iowa’s offense has begun clicking in recent weeks is due large in part to the productivity from their young tight end duo.
Hockenson will certainly become a more refined player by staying in school, and he may even be able to raise his draft stock over the course of the next year with Noah Fant presumably leaving a year early for the NFL, but he also might ask himself, why wait?
What’s the point in waiting to make the jump to the NFL if talent evaluators like what they see, and you have the prototypical skill set for today’s game?
Other than a devotion to win with the Hawkeyes, there may not be many reasons for Hockenson and Fant to pass up on the NFL after this season.
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This kid is a chain mover and someone who will exploit linebackers in coverage all day long. NFL teams probably can’t wait to get their hands on him.