NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Aaron Hernandez - Tight End - Florida
by Jody Jamieson
15/3/2010
 
Aaron Hernandez
Tight End
Florida
6-2, 245
Born: 6th November 1989
Junior
 
Strengths: Hernandez is a wide receiver in a tight ends body. He has excellent speed for his size and the position and he possesses a good feel for zones knowing when he is open. His route running is sound and he breaks well finding that extra step on defenders. He is a genuine deep threat inside the hashes and his ability to do that can open things up underneath for others. His hands are also excellent and he shows the ability to pluck the football out of the air catching it at its highest point. When he catches the ball he is tough to bring down with his speed and thick frame. Despite only been a junior he has plenty of experience and within a top flight program. He has a superb work ethic and never stops fighting hard on the football field and he has football smarts, always ready to help out his quarterback.
 
Weaknesses: His arms measured up a bit shorter than ideal at the combine for an all round tight end (32 ¼ inches) and it will be harder to sell him as a player who just needs his blocking skills developed because of it. He is a willing blocker who tries hard and his technique is reasonable but he also needs to improve his strength in order to be effective in the pros and it's never been a major part of his game. Some teams may view him as a fullback or H-Back prospect rather than a full time tight end and if that view grows, it will see his stock lose value.
 
Where I think he'll be drafted: Hernandez can be a help to any team as a receiving threat straight away so his immediate impact potential means he should go off the board at some point in round three.
 
Where I think he should be drafted: I think as a one dimensional tight end round three is about right. This guy can be valuable part of any receiving corps and in a more pass orientated league with more shotgun and spread, tight ends are been used like slot receivers at times, Hernandez fits that type of role.
 
Summary: Hernandez's decision to go pro a year early was no surprise given the fact his quarterback – Tim Tebow – leaves for the pros this year as well. Stepping up into the college ranks he was ranked the #1 tight end prospect after an extremely productive high school career where he played effectively both ways. He started seeing action towards the end of his freshman year and stepped in as starter as a sophomore after starter Cornelius Ingram went down injured. That was followed by his superb junior season where he led the team in receiving and won the John Mackay award as the nation's best tight end. He compares to Dallas Clark in that he is as much wide receiver as tight end but in today's NFL players like Hernandez can easily find a niche and don't always require the all round game although that is not to say Hernandez cannot improve and become an adequate blocker. He might be the tight end who can have the most impact in his rookie season as a pure receiving threat but he has to hope his draft stock is not harmed by measurable physical assets the pro scouts love and take maybe a little too seriously at times.