The most talent-rich position in Colorado high school football this season consists of brainy big fellas ready to pancake block or catch touchdowns as matchup nightmares.
Go ahead and bill 2020 as “Year of the Tight End” with five in-state seniors already committed to play FBS football: Heritage’s Terrance Ferguson (Oregon) and Erik Olsen (Colorado), Cherokee Trail’s Sam Hart (Ohio State), Cherry Creek’s Gunnar Helm (Texas) and Fossil Ridge’s Tanner Arkin (Colorado State).
“It’s just Colorado’s time,” Olsen said. “It’s really cool to see that happen. I don’t think there’s another state where they have that many top tight ends coming out. Maybe there’s just something in the Colorado water.”
The movement is best represented in Littleton where Heritage coach Tyler Knoblock has the challenge, and excitement, of finding ways to utilize a pair of future Pac-12 tight ends.
Knoblock described Ferguson — the state’s top-overall 2021 college prospect (according to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings) — as “essentially a wide receiver” in a 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame. Olsen — who chose CU over Stanford, Notre Dame and others — is more of a “true in-line blocking tight end.”
Both players are asked to do it all.
“I always say it’s the second most challenging position after the quarterback in our offense because they truly have to know the blocking portion of things and all the pass stuff,” Knoblock said. “If they’re smart and flexible, then you can really do anything that you need to. What the state of Colorado has going on right now with all the Division-I tight ends roaming around is pretty special.”
The position has evolved in recent years from often unheralded contributors to star players — as evidenced by San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle commanding a record-setting $75 million contract extension in August. The importance of having a versatile blocking pass-catcher has trickled all the way down to Colorado preps.
“Four or five years ago, everybody was in a spread with four-wide,” Fossil Ridge coach Jeff Fulton said. “There’s a new emphasis on tight ends.”
Athletes who might typically play defensive end have transitioned into two-way stars, much like Arkin, a CSU commit who missed nearly all of last season with a broken collarbone. Arkin will rush the passer for Fossil Ridge this year, but he’ll also play tight end, often splitting out wide as a lone receiver in the Sabercats’ offense. Fulton called him “un-guardable.”
“It’s the best of both worlds,” Arkin said. “It’s a hybrid position where you get to hit people, and at the same time, you’re running routes and catching passes. I feel like it’s one of the best positions you can play.”
Who is the best tight end in the state? Four are ranked inside the top 30 nationally, per 247Sports’ composite ratings, at their respective position — Ferguson (10), Hart (16), Olsen (23) and Helm (30), with Arkin (100) intent on moving up in the conversation.
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the state’s prep tight end renaissance. One certainty, though, is that success breeds competition.
“Being at the same position drives us,” Olsen said. “I can look over across the state and see what they’re doing. Even having Terrance on the same team, we motivate and push each other. But it’s all friendly competition between us. We know we all have great futures ahead of us. We’re still trying to compete for a state championship.”
TIGHT END STARS
Breaking down the top-five tight ends in Colorado high school football this season, listed in alphabetical order.
Tanner Arkin — Fossil Ridge
Size: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
College commitment: Colorado State
247Sports composite national position ranking: 100
2019 stats: N/A (missed season due to injury)
Terrance Ferguson — Heritage
Size: 6-5, 230
College commitment: Oregon
247Sports composite national position ranking: 10
2019 stats: 52 catches, 929 yards, 11 touchdowns
Sam Hart — Cherokee Trail
Size: 6-5, 225
College commitment: Ohio State
247Sports composite national position ranking: 16
2019 stats: 31 catches, 562 yards, 7 touchdowns
Gunnar Helm — Cherry Creek
Size: 6-5, 225
College commitment: Texas
247Sports composite national position ranking: 30
2019 stats: 25 catches, 378 yards, 8 touchdowns
Erik Olsen — Heritage
Size: 6-5, 230
College commitment: Colorado
247Sports composite national position ranking: 23
2019 stats: 28 catches, 533 yards, 8 touchdowns
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