Benjamin Yurosek named one of the best returning tight ends in college football
Stanford tight end Benjamin Yurosek has been nothing short of a star during his time on the Farm, but with Troy Taylor at the helm, the senior tight end could have his best season yet. A matchup nightmare for defenses, Yurosek burst onto the scene in 2021 when he recorded 42 catches for over 630 yards and three touchdowns.
He had a decent 2022 season, but his production did take a slight hit with his receiving yards falling to 445, his yards per catch going from over 15 to 9.1, and grabbing just one touchdown.
Now this decline in production isn't on Yurosek, as the offense was plagued by poor offensive line play, injuries, and an offensive system that didn't accentuate their strengths. That likely won't be the case with Troy Taylor at the helm, as the former Sacramento State head coach is renowned for his offensive mind.
Taylor was probably thrilled when Yurosek elected to return for his final season, and a recent ranking by PFF only supports this notion as they ranked Yurosek as one of the 10 best returning tight ends. The Stanford tight end came in at No. 6 on the list, and is expected to have a major year for Stanford who actually just picked up some quarterback help from the transfer portal as well.
Here is what PFF had to say:
The junior’s 65.3 receiving grade this season was nearly 15 points lower than what he posted last year. He tallied more than 200 fewer receiving yards in 2022 despite receiving four more targets.
Still, his 1,099 receiving yards and 596 yards after the catch over the past two seasons trail only Brock Bowers among returning Power Five tight ends. He adds nothing as a run blocker, but Yurosek earns a spot on this list for his receiving production as of late.
There's a huge possibility that Taylor's offense showcases Yurosek considering during his time at Sacramento State tight end Marshel Martin led the team in catches and receiving touchdowns for the past two seasons.
While the quarterback battle is still far from settled, one thing we do know about the passing game is that whoever is slinging the rock will have one of the best tight ends in the country to throw to.
