Miami is Tight End U

Stuart Wang
Hurricanewarriors.com

Position: Tight End
School that rules: Miami - Jimmy Graham, Greg Olsen, Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey, Richard Gordon, Chase Ford.)

Coming attractions: Clive Walford, Asante' Cleveland, Beau Sandland. Standish Dobard

Has Miami become Tight End U?

Best pipeline

Miami Hurricanes
Teams in the market for receivers and/or tight ends have had a great deal of success mining Miami for talent in recent years. In fact, it was the only school to have two of its alumni finish in the top 10 in receiving yardage in 2008. Andre Johnson led the league with 1,575 yards, and Reggie Wayne ranked 10th with 1,145 yards. Not to be outdone by the receivers, four Hurricanes tight ends have gone in the first round of the draft since 2000.

First Round Tight ends
Bubba Franks (14th overall, 2000, Green Bay Packers)
Jeremy Shockey (14th overall, 2002, New York Giants)
Kellen Winslow II (sixth overall, 2004, Cleveland Browns)
Greg Olsen (31st overall, 2007, Chicago Bears)

NFL Tight Ends
2012 Chase Ford - Free Agent, Philadephia Eagles
2011 Richard Gordan - 6th Round, #181, Oakland Raiders
2010 Jimmy Graham - 3rd Round, #95, New Orleans Saints
2010 Dedrick Epps - 7th Round, #235, San Diego Chargers
2010 Tervaris Johnson - Free Agent, Kansas City Chiefs
2010 DajLeon Farr - Free Agent, San Diego Chargers
2009 Chris Zellner - Free Agent, Tampa Bay Bucs
2007 Greg Olsen - 1st Round, #31, Chicago Bears
2007 Kareem Brown - 4th Round, #127, New England Patriots
2006 Buck Ortega - Free Agent, Washington Redskins
2005 Kevin Everett - 3rd Round, #86, Buffalo Bills
2004 Kellen Winslow Jr. - 1st Round, #6, Cleveland Browns
2002 Jeremy Shockey - 1st Round, #14, New York Giants
2001 Ivan Mercer - Free Agent, Denver Broncos
2000 Daniel "Bubba" Franks - 1st Round, #14, Green Bay Pakcers
2000 Mondriel Fulcher - 78th round, #227, Oakland Raiders
1998 Syii Tucker - Free Agent, Carolina Panthers
1996 Derrick Harris - 6th Round, #175, St. Louis Rams
1993 Carlos Etheredge - 6th Round, #157, Indianapolis Colts
1993 Coleman Bell - Free Agent, Dallas Cowboys
1991 Randy Bethel - 10th Round, #251, new England Patriots
1991 Rob "Chud" Chudzinski - Free Agent
1988 Alfredo Roberts - 8th Round, #197, Kansas City Chiefs
1988 Charles Henry - Free Agent, Miami Dolphins
1986 Willie Smith - 10th Round, #186, Cleveland Browns
1984 Glenn Dennison - 2nd Round, #39, New York Jets
1979 Steve Alvers - 7th Round, #172, New York Giants
1978 Charlie Claude - Free Agent, Pittsburgh Steelers
1970 Dave Kalina - Free Agent, Pittsburgh Steelers
1968 Jim Cox - 2nd Round, #54, Miami Dolphins
1968 Steve Smith - 7th Round, #166, Cincinnati Bengals
1966 Rich Kotite - 18th Round, Minnesota Vikings
1965 Fred "Redwood" Brown - 3rd Round, #37, Los Angeles Rams
1965 Bob Werl - 12th Round -#162, Los Angeles Rams
1965 Fred Hubbs - Free Agent, Washington Redskins
1964 Hoyt "Bill" Sparks - Free Agent, Washington Redskins
1955 Frank McDonald - 7th round, #75, Baltimore Colts

As for tight ends, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow have been slowed by injuries and can be team distractions. Bubba Franks is clearly on the downside of his career, and the jury is still out on Greg Olsen. That said, all four have substantially impacted their respective teams.

Shockey went to four Pro Bowls during his first six seasons in the league. Winslow went to the Pro Bowl after the 2007 season, when he caught 82 passes for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns. Franks went to three consecutive Pro Bowls starting in 2002, and Olsen appears on the verge of a breakout season now that Jay Cutler is in town.