Georgia Tech Football Potential Breakout Candidates: Tight End

Georgia Tech needs more production from its tight ends in 2023

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Jun 3, 2023 5:10 PM EDT

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Georgia Tech had hoped to get more production out of the tight end position last season, but no tight end on the roster caught a touchdown or even had over 100 yards receiving all year. New offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner used two-tight ends sets during the spring game and that is something I would expect to see as the season goes on.

Dylan Leonard and Luke Benson are back and the Yellow Jackets added Georgia transfer Brett Seither and USF transfer Jackson Long to challenge for playing time and add depth.

I have been picking breakout candidates for each position and have already discussed quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Today, I am going to look at who could be the breakout star for the tight end position.

Georgia Tech is going to have to have someone at this position step up this season and be a factor for whichever quarterback is named the started. It is cliche to say, but a reliable tight end is a quarterback's best friend and while none of these guys need to be superstars, they need to be a threat in the vertical passing game and trustworthy in run blocking.

I think Faulkner had that envisioned when he brought Seither with him from UGA and that is why he is my pick.

Can Brett Seither have a breakout season for Georgia Tech in 2023?
Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Here is what the scouting report was on Seither coming out of high school from 247Sports:

"Tall and muscular tight end who looks like a jumbo wide receiver at the prep level. Legit 6-5 frame and has added bulk over last year. Massive production bump from junior year to senior year with added size. New-age talent built to play in space with improved ability to play in-line at times. Long strider, runs well. Better route-runner than most his size with plus ball skills. Strong red-zone threat. Competitive. Plays with an edge and attitude and can physically overwhelm defensive backs. Too quick for bigger defenders. Wide catch radius. Runs with good lean relative to size and can do damage after the catch more than most. Will need to fill out to become Alpha tight end option at high-end Power Five program but could earn spot duty early on with size and receiving prowess. Willing blocker with great effort. Wants to finish through whistle but needs improved technique and bulk to keep defense honest. Best football still well ahead of him but should be productive in passing game when called upon, something the NFL covets in the modern era. May develop into multi-dimensional balanced tight end or H-back before college career wraps up."

Seither might be that type of player who can be a vertical receiving threat, but he has had little opportunity to show it so far. According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), Seither played six snaps in 2019, 16 snaps in 2020, 68 snaps in 2021, and 26 total snaps last season. Now, that does not mean that Seither is not a talented player. While in Athens, Seither was stuck behind Brock Bowers (the best tight end in the country), Darnell Washington (a potential first-round pick), and last season, four-star freshman Oscar Delp. It was going to be tough for him to get snaps over those players (even with Washington leaving) and his move to Tech is going to give him a chance to be the No. 1 tight end.

I like his chances to do that. I projected him to be the top tight end after spring practice and I am sticking to it. His familiarity with Faulkner is a big plus. I think Brent Key and Faulkner want the tight end position to be featured more prominently this season and in the future.

The thing that I want to see from Seither is how his blocking holds up. This is not to say he can't block, but that seems to be the part of his game that is most in question. The Yellow Jackets have a lot of uncertainty at the wide receiver position as well and being able to have a tight end to rely upon could be essential if some of those players don't step up.

I expect there to be better production from this position in 2023 and Seither is going to be the reason why.

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