2017 NFL Draft: 10 Most underrated prospects heading into offseason

The Miami Hurricanes have churned out some elite tight ends over the years, including big names like Jimmy Graham, Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. Now, there’s another tight end coming out of the program who may have some legitimate Pro Bowl potential in David Njoku.

Njoku was pretty quiet in his first year on the field as a sophomore in 2015. He even had a slow start to this season. However, the Miami tight end started to come alive later this year, catching seven touchdowns in the team’s final six games. On a national stage against West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl, Njoku made one of the most impressive plays of the bowl season, which you can see below.

If that play doesn’t scream athleticism, I don’t know what does. When the ball is in his hands, Njoku can be a tough guy to bring down, especially given his 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame. He knows he’s bigger and more athletic than a lot of college linebackers, and he uses that to his advantage.

The Hurricanes prospect is faster than you’d think given his size, but Njoku still isn’t a complete prospect. Before NFL teams will buy into him completely, Njoku will need to prove that he can also contribute as a consistent blocker in the running game. Until then, he’ll likely be used primarily in spread out formations in passing situations.

This year’s tight end class is stacked, but Njoku has the potential to be one of the best in the group. If he winds up on a team with a legitimate starter at quarterback, he could wind up putting up some big numbers in a hurry.