Drew Ogletree Emerging as All Around Tight End: Film

Second year tight end Drew Ogletree has been a reliable player for the Colts in 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Yougstown State tight end Drew Ogletree in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Ogletree was the star of training camp a year ago before tearing his ACL in August prior to the season. Now in his first official season of action with the Colts, Ogletree is living up to that rookie year hype.

Standing in at an impressive 6'5" 260 pounds, Ogletree possesses the ideal size and athleticism to play the tight end position in the NFL. He just needed the reps in order to make an impact for the Colts. A preseason injury to presumed starter Jelani Woods opened the door for Ogletree to make an impact. 

Ogletree has played roughly 42% of the Colts' offensive snaps this season, and that comes with him missing a game early in the year due to a concussion. His snaps have steadily increased in recent weeks, as he surpassed 40 offensive snaps in games against the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns. 

What happens next for the Colts? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Colts news delivered to your inbox daily!

He may not be putting up gaudy numbers in the receiving game (just seven receptions for 95 yards and a TD), but he has been Mr. Reliable when called upon on the season. His three receptions for 48 yards (and a touchdown) against the Los Angeles Rams back in week four all came on a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter.

Drew Ogletree was emerging as a favorite target of Anthony Richardson's before the rookie quarterback was lost for the season due to an injury. Ogletree hauled in five receptions for 71 yards from Richardson in just a little over one game played together on the year.

Their chemistry can certainly be felt on the completions shown above, but even more so on this play against the Tennessee Titans. Richardson gets a high-low opportunity with Ogletree on a dig route, and the young quarterback rips it into the opening for an impressive completion.

One thing that we have learned about Ogletee this season is that he is going to make the catch if it is in his wheelhouse:

The most impressive area of growth for the young tight end has been as a blocker. Ogletree began his collegiate career as a wide receiver, so he has steadily been learning how to block as an in-line player over the past few years. 

He still has some room to improve overall, but he has been a plus asset in the run game all season long. Veteran Mo Alie-Cox has been holding it down as the primary in-line blocker, which has freed up Ogletree for more of a Jack Doyle role in the run game.

Drew Ogletree is asked to do a lot of different things in the run game, from cracking back across the formation from his sniffer position to even run replacing the B gap on some gap scheme calls. He has steadily grown to be an excellent player in whatever run assignment he is given.

This past weekend against the Cleveland Browns is the perfect example of his ascension. He was outstanding all game long as a blocker and was a major reason why the Colts were able to find success on the ground against a stout run defense:

Overall, Drew Ogletree has been one of the Colts' hidden gems this season on offense. He is currently Pro Football Focus' 6th highest graded run blocker at the position, and six of his seven receptions have gone for a first down/touchdown.

It is too early to proclaim him the next anything in Indy, but he is playing eerily familiar to hometown hero Jack Doyle. His blocking in space has been fantastic and he has been as reliable as can be in the passing game. It's hard to ask for much more out of a second year tight end in the NFL.

Need your fill on daily Colts' content? Head over to the Locked On Colts' YouTube channel where Jake Arthur and I hit on all the major topics surrounding this team. Hit that subscribe button while you are there!

https://youtu.be/ijKDifCrr8c?si=8tfQ6OPLBqkJ8iR4

Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Horseshoe Huddle on YouTube for daily Colts live-stream podcasts!