Class of 2027 Michigan Tight End Pre-Season Rankings

Top 2027 Michigan Tight Ends: Pure Talent Rankings

At NXTGEN, our NXTGEN Recruit-ABILITY scores and overall rankings are built from a wide range of factors — social media presence, production, offers, measurable traits, academics, and projectability as a recruit as a whole. Those elements make up our scores that help programs identify guys who check boxes and help predict development potential. They do not always line up with pure talent evaluation: the raw size, hands, route ability, blocking physicality, athleticism, and football IQ that separate the best players on film.This list prioritizes pure talent. It is our look at the 2027 Michigan TEs who stand out most for what they can do on the field, independent of current offer lists or NXTGEN scores.

Class Context

The 2027 Michigan tight end group is one of the deeper and more diverse position classes in the state. It features true mismatch athletes, classic in-line blockers, vertical threats, and H-back/move pieces. While Power Four interest remains selective, the top of this board offers multiple players with clear FBS or high-level FCS upside, and several more who will be difference-makers at the DII level. Many remain uncommitted heading into their senior seasons, giving programs a strong opportunity to get in early on high-upside talent.

Top 10:

1 – Holden Niemi, Dexter High School, Committed - Texas A&M

Niemi is a well-rounded big bodied TE who blends the size and receiving traits of a mismatch weapon with the physicality of a true in-line blocker. He possesses enough speed to run an expansive route tree, wins jump balls consistently wiht his height and hands, and creates mismatches anywhere on the field. After the catch he is aggressive and physical, regularly bouncing defenders off and lowering his shoulder to run through contact. His blocking stands out for its nasty finish and ability to win at the point of attack, giving him a complete skill set that projects as a high-upside dual-threat tight end at the next level.

2 – Anthony Cartwright III, Detroit Country Day High School, Oregon

Cartwright is a massive 6'5" / 240lb athlete who functions as the centerpiece for his school's offense, regularly creating mismatches that smaller skill players and defenders simply can't match. The majority of his targets come on quick hitches designed to get the ball in his hands and force the defense to tackle him, a formula that works consistently at this level; he also shows the ability to run slants and vertical routes when asked. He is extremely difficult to bring down after the catch and displays excellent body control and football awareness, while also lining up at QB for occasional change-of-pace or trick plays. Blocking reps are limited on available film, yet his size and strength project at least serviceable. Hands are a clear strength and the overall physical tools give him a high-ceiling profile as a mismatch TE/ATH. His biggest Recruit-Ability score issue is simply his Social Media profile isn't a typical layout due to high natural recruiting interest and his academics and combine numbers aren't posted.

3 – Aidan Jacobs, Traverse City West High School, Kent State

Aidan is a prototypical modern tight end prospect with the size, length, and athleticism to thrive at the next level. At 6'5" and 215 with an 80" wingspan, he presents a massive target who already runs refined routes, wins blocks consistently, and shows outstanding body control for a player of his stature. His natural high-point ability, red-zone presence, and advanced football IQ make him a mismatch nightmare who can contribute immediately in situational packages. While he occasionally leaves his feet unnecessarily and would need a modest speed boost only if converted to receiver, neither issue is significant. With added functional weight he projects as a dominating FBS tight end capable of impacting games in many ways.

4 – Brady Hasselbring, Oxford High School, Uncommitted (5 Offers)

Hasselbring is a lean yet large receiving threat at TE who pairs solid hands & functional speed wiht the intelligence to slip initial blocks and drag across the field in the direction of his QB's eyes on a regular basis. He consistently finds open grass after releasing and can be especially dangerous against. weaker secondary unit. As a blocker he is willing and aggressive, winning with a nasty finish and the ability to either blow defenders up at the POA or grind them out of the play, even if pure technique is not yet elite. The combo of length, after-catch traits, and physical mentality gives him a versatile developmental profile as a move TE.

5 – Atticus Joy, Okemos High School, Northern Michigan

Atticus is a classic big bodied TE who wins with size, fundamentals, and positional versatility rather than explosive athleticism. He consistently shows solid blocking technique and the ability to win at the point of attack even if he is not the most aggressive or nasty finisher. As a receiver he can find open grass, run functional routes, and is occasionally flexed wide, yet he is not, a significant after catch threat - he goes down quickly and lacks the speed to outrun most DBs. Overall he profiles as a reliable, scheme-friendly TE whose strength is in-line work and whose ceiling will be tied to continued refinement as a complete Y complementary piece.

6 – Brayden Watson, Romeo High School, Uncommitted (2 Offers)

Watson is a slightly undersized TE who ranks as one of the smaller top prospects at the position in the state yet profiles as a clear vertical threat. His best traits are speed, hands, and route-running ability that allow him to create separation and stretch the field, giving him a natural path toward a slot role at the next level. He is a willing powerful blocker. While he lacks the pure size, strength, and athleticism of the top guys in the state at his position, continued growth in mass and power could allow him to stick at the positions as a mismatch receiving TE.

7 – Dylan Malotke, Mona Shores High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

Maltoke is a big TE that doubles as a DE when possessions flip. He leverages his size & strength to destroy defenders at the POA when asked, even if his blocking technique remains unrefined and lacks a consistently nasty finish. As a receiver he is functional rather than flash, reliably leaking into the flats or settling into hitches behind linebackers and securing the ball when targeted. He is not a significant YAC threat, yet his frame and power make him difficult to bring down once he has secured possession. Overall he profiles as a physical, scheme-versatile TE whose ceiling is tied to continued technical refinement in both the run and pass game.

8 – Coleman Van Fossen, Grand Ledge High School, Uncommitted (5 Offers)

Van Fossen is a compact TE whose shorter frame is non-prototypical for the position at the next level, yet he possess the functional strength and willingness to block that coaches value. He shows solid hands, serviceable speed, and the ability to run routes effectively while also functioning well as a check-down option who can hit a back and quickly get into open grass. Once he has the ball he is shifty, slippery, and tough to bring down. The combo of strength, effort, and after-catch traits gives him a developmental path as a move or H-Back Style TE rather than a traditional in-line prototype.

9 – Landon Kennedy, Saginaw Heritage High School, Uncommitted (2 Offers)

Kennedy is an undersized TE who functions more as an H-Back/Wing Back in his offense rather than the traditional TE role. He shows better than expected route running for the role, consistently slips into open grass, and offers solid/reliable hands even if they aren't elite. After the catch he is at his most dangerous - an aggressive runner with a low base who is difficult to get hands on and can run through or over defenders in space. Blocking is effective but only average, and he will not win many jump balls; the combination of elite relative strength and physicality after the catch gives him a clear niche as a short-yardage and space mismatch piece.

10 – Nolan Ong, Lakeview St. Clair Shores High School, Uncommitted (1 Offer)

Ong is a pure blocking TE whose available film exclusively is made up of in-line work, where he stands out as likely the best pure blocking TE in the state of Michigan in his class. He shows excellent technique and strength in both the run and pass game, with a slight edge given to pass-pro efficiency, consistently winning at the point of attack. At his current frame with modest length and below-average tested speed, he lacks the ideal size and athleticism for a traditional receiving TE role. Receiving traits remain largely upgradable due tot he absence of targets on film, yet his blocking alone gives him a clear developmental path as a specialist of sorts or H-Back style contributor at the next level.

Honorable Mentions:

Wade Pickard - Okemos High School, Madix Gorleski - Vassar High Schol, Caleb Widdows - Warren Cousino High School, Eli Nesbitt - Hastings High School, Djago Coly - Farmington High School, Liam Payne - Union City High School, Linken Mead - Decatur High School, Ryan Maier - Owosso High School

CONCLUSION

The 2027 Michigan tight end class stands out for its depth and stylistic variety more than any single dominant prototype. From pure athletic mismatches and vertical threats at the top to refined in-line blockers and physical H-back types further down the board, programs of all levels will find players who fit specific scheme needs. The top five in particular offer legitimate FBS to high level Division II upside with the combination of size, hands, and competitive toughness that translates, while the rest of the group provides reliable developmental pieces and specialists. With the majority of these prospects still uncommitted heading into their senior seasons, this is a class that should see significant movement on the recruiting trail once fall film begins to circulate. Overall it ranks as one of the stronger and more complete tight end groups Michigan has produced in recent cycles.