by Ryan Myers
Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated.
At Draft 412, the NFL draft talk never ends. We will keep you ready for the next set of gridiron stars—from today and all the way until draft night 2024. We will bring you mock drafts, player profiles, individual team needs, and everything else you may need related to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Today’s Spotlight - Ole Miss, Tight End, Caden Prieskorn
Name - Caden Prieskorn
Pos - TE
Team - Ole Miss
HT/WT - 6’5” 255 lbs.
Born - 09/21/1999
Home – Lake Orion, MI
Caden Prieskorn played his high school football at Orchard Lake High School in Michigan. He played QB and helped his school to a state title in his junior year. He was not highly recruited and chose to play his prep ball at Fork Union Military Academy where he played tight end and QB for the Blue Devils and had plenty of success, which helped him to gather some attention in the college football world.
After Fork Union, Prieskorn went to Memphis where he moved away from the QB position and became a tight end. He played minimally in his first two seasons in 2020 and 2021. Over these two seasons he hauled in just 7 catches for 79 yards. However, he broke out in his junior year last season, playing in all 13 games and hauling in 48 receptions for 602 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was one of the top receiving options for the Memphis offense.
Out of the transfer portal, Prieskorn chose Ole Miss as his destination for the 2023 season. So far, this has proven to be a good choice for him as he has 6 receptions for 125 yards and is making his impact on the offensive side of the ball for the Rebels. He has only played in 3 games due to a foot injury he was dealing with at the beginning of the season and also due to the passing of his father in early October. He has spent a couple weeks away from the team, but returned for the games against Arkansas and Auburn.
Prieskorn has reliable hands, NFL size, and excellent body control. He is a highly talented receiver with a large catch radius and uses his hands well when catching passes. His sizeable frame gives him an advantage in making contested catches and he plays with an uncanny level of balance which, paired with his size, makes him tough to tackle.
Prieskorn isn’t explosive as a receiver, possessing average speed for a future pro tight end, and it takes him a while to get to his top speed off the line. This could hinder his ability to create separation at the next level of the game and to threaten the top of the defense as a pass-catcher. He’s not a proficient blocker yet and needs to improve his lower body strength to be consistent in the NFL.
Strengths
Reliable Hands
Catch Radius
Size
Body Control
Weaknesses
Blocking
Explosiveness
Not a deep threat
One possible player comparison for Caden Prieskorn is South Dakota State product and current Philadelphia Eagles tight end, Dallas Goedert. He has a similar build to Prieskorn at 6’5” and 256 pounds with similar tendencies on the field. Out of college, Goedert was known for his versatility in the passing game, but criticized for his blocking skills. He is a great threat when it comes to red zone plays and medium yardage passing downs. He has been an important piece of the Eagles’ offense for years.
Final Analysis
Caden Prieskorn plays with tremendous body control and balance using his size and impressive catch radius to make contested catches all over the field. He is willing to play physical and make catches over the middle of the field. He may not have top end explosiveness, but has decent speed for a tight end and a great feel for finding soft spots in zone defenses. He is at his best in red-zone and medium yardage situations and is a creative runner after the catch. His limited leg strength makes him a bit of a liability when it comes to blocking, but if he grows stronger, he could become a playmaker and an important piece to an NFL offense.
Draft 412 Draft Prediction - 6th round or 7th round