quote:
Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. R-Soph. Dawson Knox (played in six games on special teams)
2. R-Sr. Ty Quick (played in every game as a backup tight end and on special teams)

Interesting fact

Knox is a walk-on who was considered an option at quarterback in practice last season after Chad Kelly’s season-ending knee injury

Damn Ole Miss, once again, you guys suck. They were also ranked 14th in RBs with next to zero returning production.

13. Texas A&M
12. Alabama
11. Mississippi State
10. LSU

quote:
Interesting fact

LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada has combined the team’s tight ends and fullbacks into a new position, the F-back — a versatile role similar to H-back that also includes receiver and running back traits.

9. Auburn

quote:
Auburn has underutilized the tight end position in recent years—including just two catches from the position last season—but that figures to change under first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who wants to emphasize the position more and turn the team’s tight ends into versatile playmakers. Auburn potentially has that in junior college transfer Sal Cannella, who has spent a lot of time split out wide this fall, and junior Jalen Harris, who has two touchdowns in as many career receptions.

Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. Soph. Sal Cannella (29 catches for 449 yards and seven touchdowns at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona last season)

2. Jr. Jalen Harris (two receptions for 16 yards and two touchdowns)

Interesting fact

Harris was coached and mentored by former Auburn tight end great Philip Lutzenkirchen during the spring before his senior season at St. James in Montgomery

Sal Cannella is going to be an absolute stud. Matchup nightmare and big time playmaker.
Plus, look at those gorgeous flowing locks

8. Arkansas

quote:
Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. R-Soph. Austin Cantrell (13 receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns)

2. R-Soph. Cheyenne O’Grady (three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown)

Interesting fact

Arkansas has had five tight ends selected in the NFL Draft since 2011.

7. Tennessee

quote:
Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. Sr. Ethan Wolf (21 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns)

2. Sr. Jakob Johnson (two receptions for 10 yards, but used primarily as a blocking tight end/sixth offensive lineman)

Interesting fact

Wolf is one reception shy of tying former Tennessee tight end Jason Witten (68) on the Vols’ career receptions chart

(I thought this pic of Wolf is badass)

6. Missouri

quote:
Interesting fact

According to Pro Football Focus, Blanton is third among SEC returning tight ends in yards per route run at 1.64.

5. Kentucky

quote:
Interesting fact

Nicknamed “Mini Gronk,” Conrad leads all returning SEC tight ends in yards per route run, according to Pro Football Focus. Conrad averaged 2.21 yards per route run in 2016.

4. Vanderbilt

quote:
Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. R-Soph. Jared Pinkney (22 receptions for 274 yards and two touchdowns)

2. R-Sr. Nathan Marcus (11 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown)

Interesting fact

Pinkney was a first-team Freshman All-SEC selection by Athlon Sports last season

3. Georgia

quote:
Georgia may end up with the most talented tight end in the SEC this year in preseason All-SEC first-team selection Isaac Nauta, but the Bulldogs lack the depth at the position to vault them into the top two rankings in the conference. Nauta was a revalation as a freshman last season, catching 29 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns, making him the leading receiver among true freshman tight ends last season.

Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. Soph. Isaac Nauta (29 receptions, 361 yards, three touchdowns)

2. Sr. Jeb Blazevich (six receptions for 69 yards)

Interesting fact

Among the SEC’s returning tight ends, Nauta ranks second in yards gained per route run according to Pro Football Focus. Nauta gained 1.99 yards per route run as a freshman last season.

2. Florida

quote:
Florida’s depth bumps the Gators ahead of Georgia in this ranking thanks to the duo of DeAndre Goolsby and C’yontai Lewis. Goolsby was a third-team preseason All-SEC selection at tight end last month after hauling in 38 catches for 342 yards and three touchdowns while his partner at the position, Lewis, caught 18 passes for 184 yards and a pair of scores while excelling in run-blocking. Goolsby and Lewis were two of the Gators’ top five receivers last season and figure to be go-to options for whomever is named the starting quarterback this fall.

Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. Sr. DeAndre Goolsby (38 catches for 342 yards and three touchdowns)

2. R-Soph. C’yontai Lewis (18 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns)

Interesting fact

According to Pro Football Focus, Goolsby has the lowest drop rate of all returning FBS tight ends at just 2.56 percent.

1. South Carolina

quote:
Easily claiming the top spot in this countdown is South Carolina, and that’s largely due to the strength of Hayden Hurst. The junior was the second-leading receiver among all SEC tight ends last season, behind only Engram of Ole Miss, catching 48 passes for 616 yards and a touchdown. The preseason second-team All-SEC selection is sure to be a favorite of sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley as the Gamecocks hope for a more productive offense this season. Hurst’s backup, K.C. Crosby, is no slouch either as the SEC’s eighth-most productive returning tight end this season. Paired with some stable talent at quarterback, South Carolina’s tight ends figure to be the cream of the crop in the conference this season.

Top two projected tight ends (2016 stats)

1. Jr. Hayden Hurst (48 receptions, 616 yards, one touchdown)

2. R-Jr. K.C. Crosby (23 receptions, 217 yards, four touchdowns)

Interesting fact

Before enrolling at South Carolina, Hurst spent two seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a pitcher in the rookie Gulf Coast League in 2013 and 2014.

to South Carolina

Arkansas will no doubt rise towards the top of this list, just not much experience right now.

I think Tennesse will rise too, Wolf is good.

Bold Prediction
Sal Cannella for Auburn will be the SEC's new Evan Engram. He won't have the same production (at least not as senior Engram), but he has the same talent and skill set. He will be used the same way that Engram was, essentially as a large WR that creates mismatches. He's been a popular pick as the MVP of Fall Camp for Auburn