NFL Draft 2019: T.J. Hockenson appears to be sure-fire star

Iowa football had one of the top tight ends in the game last year with T.J. Hockenson. And now, he’ll look to dominate after the NFL draft.

TJ Hockenson split time with fellow NFL prospect Noah Fant for the Hawkeyes, but still managed to showcase why many see him going bright and early in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft.

Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 250 pounds, Hockenson has the prototypical tight end body. But he also has some big-play skills as evident by his 15.5 yards per catch this past year and six touchdowns.

One big benefit someone is going to get when they draft Hockenson is his schooling. Iowa has turned out plenty of good tight ends and offensive linemen over the years under long-time head coach Kirk Ferentz, so you know Hockenson has all the intangibles to step right in and be a key piece to the offense.

He played in just 23 games over two years after redshirting for the Hawkeyes, finishing his career with 73 catches for 1,080 yards and nine touchdowns. But, Iowa isn’t a spread offense by any means, which limited Hockenson’s opportunities, along with Fant being on the roster.

Strength

Size, skills, schooling; Hockenson has all three traits coming out of Iowa, which is quickly making a case to be “Tight End U” of the college football world. While his average per catch and six touchdowns standout among the stats, NFL coaches are going to really love Hockenson’s abilities to stay in tight and help both run block and pass protect.

Hockenson, a multi-sport standout in high school at Chariton, surpassed the 1,000-yard mark both his senior and junior seasons, with another 931 yards as a sophomore. That kind of production is difficult to come by in the prep ranks, but this was a man among boys situation.

Once he arrived at Iowa, Hockenson, like many Hawkeye recruits, spent his first season as a redshirt. That allowed him to become familiar with the college game, grow as a player, gain strength and improve his abilities in regards to the playbook. All that added up to honorable mention all-Big Ten freshman honors, followed the next year by being awarded the John Mackey Award, which goes to the top tight end in the nation.

Weakness

Hockenson might not quite have the abilities to stretch a defense in the NFL as he did in college, as teams will be able to do more flexibility in terms of who they cover him with. A strong, quick linebacker with size could negate him in the passing game, but it will be hard to quiet him over the middle on short and intermediate routes.

Playing experience is another area Hockenson lacks in, as he suited up on game days for just two seasons at Iowa. And much of that was split between himself and Fant for playing time. Finding out just how much Hockenson has in his tank will be a key during the preseason for whichever team selects him.

Draft expectations

Some pundits have Hockenson going inside of the Top 10 overall, which might be a stretch considering we have yet to really see what he’s capable. A more realistic landing spot is probably somewhere between No. 15-20, allowing him to go to a team that is strong at both the quarterback and wide receiver positions, which would allow him to take advantage of his talents.

Projection: Top 20 selection