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2020 Senior Bowl TE Preview: Sleepers exist behind Hopkins

By Jacob Schyvinck

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 29: Tight end Brycen Hopkins #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers steps into the end zone for a touchdown in the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskersat Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 29: Tight end Brycen Hopkins #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers steps into the end zone for a touchdown in the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskersat Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Jared Pinkney #80 of the Vanderbilt Commodores catches a pass in front of Henry Black #8 of the Baylor Bears during the first quarterduring the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Jared Pinkney #80 of the Vanderbilt Commodores catches a pass in front of Henry Black #8 of the Baylor Bears during the first quarterduring the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Harrison Bryant, FAU

Florida Atlantic tight end Harrison Bryant enjoyed a massive jump in production in 2019, catching 65 passes for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns. Bryant showed that ability to produce in a feature role, something great to see from a smaller school tight end.

Like Hopkins, his receiving ability is unquestioned, showing enough for NFL teams to want to align him as a flex tight end.

FAU did line up Bryant inline at times to block, and a lot of inconsistencies with technique showed up. If Bryant wants to be viewed as one of the top tight ends in the class, it will be important for him to show he can be an all-around player at the position so he doesn’t fade into this class with all the other flex guys.

Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt

Talk about having a lot to prove. Vanderbilt’s Jared Pinkney came in to the 2019 season with high expectations, and it didn’t go as planned. He played in just eight games and only caught 20 passes for 233 yards and two scores during the season.

Now, some of that was poor quarterback play, and another key part was how much he was asked to stay in and block.

Pinkney has the frame to play inline, and he’s a better receiver than some believe. If he can go out and have a productive week of practice at the Senior Bowl, he can erase some of the concerns and work his way back up in this 2020 draft class.

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