Note: A little late on this one due to the holiday. Hope you enjoy it.
As the NFL becomes more of a passing league and tight ends like Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski emerge in the footsteps of Antonio Gates, teams are looking for the next great tight end. If they want to find one of the premier talents in this draft, they should take a trip to Chapel Hill and watch Eric Ebron. He just announced he will declare for the 2014 NFL Draft this past week and took part of the senior activities on Saturday against Duke. Considered by many to be the best tight end in the 2014 class a potentially a top-20 prospect, here is what you need to know about the Tar Heels’ tight end.
Full Name: Eric Ebron
Date of Birth: April 10, 1993
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
High School: Ben L Smith High School
Class: Junior
Major: Communication Studies
Twitter: @Ebron85
via GoHeels.com
Background
Ebron has always had Carolina blood running through his veins, born in Greensboro, North Carolina he was just an hour drive away from Chapel Hill. Greensboro is also the birthplace of legendary Harlem Globetrotter Fred “Curly” Neal and former NBA star Bob McAdoo.
Recruiters didn’t have to travel very far to watch Ebron play at Ben L Smith High School, but it would have been worth the drive even if they had to go across the country. Ebron dominated for the Golden Eagles in his senior season both on offense and defense. When football season was over, he was playing basketball for the Golden Eagles as well.
Ebron’s wasn’t a big part of the Golden Eagles’ offense during his senior season, he finished the year with just 28 receptions for 682 yards but still an impressive 10 touchdowns. While he wasn’t used heavily on offense he dominated as a defensive end, he finished with 13.5 sacks in his senior season and showed plenty of potential on both sides of the ball.
After the season, Ebron was named to the Associated Press North Carolina All-State team and was also a member of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl, where he played wide receiver.
Ebron didn’t receive a lot of attention from schools coming out of high school, he was just a three-star recruit by Scout.com. He was ranked just the 20th tight end in the 2011 recruiting class and the second best tight end in North Carolina behind Eric MacLain, who would later go on to play offensive tackle for the Clemson Tigers. Ebron had offers from Duke, Clemson, Arkansas and Louisville, but it was an easy decision to stay home and play for the Tar Heels.
Statistics
2011: 10 receptions, 207 receiving yards, 20.7 yards per reception and one receiving touchdown
2012: 40 receptions, 625 receiving yards, 15.6 yards per reception and four receiving touchdowns
2013: 56 receptions, 900 receiving yards, 16 yards per reception and three receiving touchdowns
The second Ebron stepped on the practice field for the Tar Heels, he immediately saw playing time. While he saw action in ten games, his name only found the stat sheet in seven of those games. In limited action, Ebron finished the year with 10 receptions for 207 receiving yards and a touchdown. His first career touchdown came on a pass across the middle which he hauled in for a 20-yard touchdown against Georgia Tech. Immediate playing time gave Ebron the chance to settle in to the new college football atmosphere and helped prepare him for the future as the Tar Heels’ starting tight end.
Ebron entered the 2012 season as the starting tight end and he flourished in his promoted role. Ebron set the new single-season tight end records with 40 receptions and 625 receiving yards, to go along with four touchdowns.
He was voted second-team All-ACC by coaches and the media, and his biggest performance of the season came against the Miami Hurricanes when he finished with seven receptions for 87 yards.
He finished the year with eight games with 50 or more receiving yards, and his first two-touchdown performance came in a loss against the Louisville Cardinals.
There was plenty of hype surrounding Ebron entering this season, everyone saw the physical ability and was hoping this would be the year he really broke out as a star player. He has lived up to all the expectations and more this year, with nine games over 60 receiving yards and three of those games with 100+ receiving yards. His most dominating performance of the year again came against the Hurricanes. Ebron put the Tar Heels’ on his back carrying the team with eight receptions for 199 receiving yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as North Carolina fell 27-23. After announcing his intentions to declare for the draft, Ebron showcased his abilities against Duke with another 100-yard game. His biggest play came on a 79-yard reception where he tucked the ball away on a short throw and sprinted down the sidelines for the big play.
Ebron’s three-year stint at North Carolina would lead him to setting the Tar Heels career leader in receptions (106) and career receiving yards (1.732) by a tight end and blew the competition away in his final season. Ebron finishes the year with 56 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns. He was named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s best tight end and fans are given a vote.
Extra Facts
When Ebron was deliberating between returning to North Carolina for his senior year or declaring early, he went with what always worked. Any time he has needed to make a big decision in his life, one person he always turns to is his mom.
Ebron has missed just two games in his three-year career with the Tar Heels, the first coming when he was academically ineligible for the Independence Bowl in 2011, and missing the Virginia game in 2012 due to illness. Ebron has been an iron man for North Carolina, even when he wasn’t at 100 percent, he took the field for his team.
It was after the suspension for his academics that it finally clicked for Ebron, especially when he told his mom about the suspension. “Seeing her face, with her being upset….my mom is my biggest influence, my biggest fan, my biggest critic, my biggest everything.
I came to college just to play football, just like every other freshman. It smacked me in the face, karma did, when you realize it’s not only about football. It’s about school, it’s about life and it’s about moving forward through life”.
North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner also noticed a change in Ebron saying “You really see him stepping up as a leader and doing the little things in his routes and getting in my hip pocket and watching film with him”
Every player is different, some like to stay quiet and focus on the game while others aren’t afraid to deliver the trash talk and make their opponent know just who they are. After a win against Boston College, Ebron was already prepared for the rivalry game against North Carolina State. He went on Twitter and tweeted “All of These Wolfpack Fans Are In For RUDE AWAKENING Come Saturday! #BeatState #Badly”. After delivering the talk off the field, Ebron delivered on his promise against the Wolfpack, finishing with nine receptions for 70 yards in a 27-19 win.
Ebron was also featured on ESPN’s Sports Center Top 10 in October for this catch against the Hurricanes. It was a memorable game for Ebron and one that would really prove to be his “star” performance on national television.
Draft Outlook
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 245 lbs.
40 Time: 4.67
While he may not have the numbers that match Texas Tech’s tight end Jace Amaro, Ebron is the top tight end prospect in the 2014 draft class. Just to see him standing on the field you immediately notice his mammoth size, at 6’4” 245 lbs. But he has even more room to grow and put on more muscle. He is a giant wide receiver playing tight end and with a 4.67 40-yard dash, he has the speed to separate from linebackers and the size to outmuscle defensive backs. He is the new-age tight end that every NFL team covets, and every quarterback loves to work with.
While many of the tight end prospects in this draft are either a strong blocker or receiver, Ebron is skilled in both areas. He understands leverage and how to use his strength, but he still needs to improve his hand placement and getting his shoulder pads lower. He has shown improvement every season since he arrived in Chapel Hill, and will only continue to improve as he adds more muscle and works with coaches. His ability to block well, allows him to make the defense hesitate when he fakes a block, then sprints past the linebacker and is open for the big play.
Ebron still hasn’t reached his full potential and will need more training with coaches. He needs to work on securing the ball with his hands then tucking it away and securing it as he breaks off a big play. He is improving in fighting through traffic to make contested catches including plays where he needs to make a leaping grab, and really just needs to continue doing it to gain the experience and trust his body and hands more. But all of the physical traits are there to become an elite tight end who can catch any ball thrown his way, no matter who is covering or how many.
Ebron has already declared for the draft and once the Tar Heels season is over, can focus on preparing for the draft and the combine. When he steps on to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium and starts to showcase his athleticism, executives and coaches will have the chance to see what all the hype is about.