Evan Jacobson

Bio

Height 6'6"
Weight 220 lbs
Hometown Waukee, IA
High School Waukee
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recruiting

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Class of 2026
#385 National
#26 TE
#5 State
0.8967 Rating

Scouting Report

A
90 / 100 Ceiling 90 • Floor 82
year 1 contributor NFL Rd 5

Evan Jacobson is a 6-foot-7, 220-230 pound tight end from Waukee, Iowa, and a consensus four-star prospect (No. 1 player in Iowa per 247Sports, top-10 national TE per Rivals) who committed to Texas A&M on July 24, 2025 over Notre Dame, Iowa State and Stanford. A genuine dual-sport recruit who will also play basketball for the Aggies, he projects as a high-major starting tight end with intriguing matchup-nightmare upside rooted in elite size and a basketball skill set.

Physical Profile

Jacobson offers a rare, towering 6'7" frame with the length and catch radius that defensive coordinators cannot easily account for. His basketball background as a 4A all-state forward (18.3 ppg) shows up in his light feet, body control, and ability to contort and high-point the ball over smaller defenders. At 220-230 pounds he still has a young, fillable frame and the wingspan to add functional mass without losing the mobility that defines his game. The measurables fit the modern field-stretching, red-zone seam-busting 'move/Y' tight end profile to a tee.

Play Style

Jacobson plays like a converted big man — a positional-rebounder mentality applied to football. On film he wins with length and timing rather than twitch, using his body to shield defenders, work back to the quarterback, and turn 50/50 throws into completions. He's most dangerous in the red zone and on seam/over routes where his catch point is simply higher than anyone can reach. He's a one-speed but high-effort mover who finishes blocks and shows competitive toughness, the hallmarks of a basketball scorer who can 'put it on the floor, work the post, and create space with his body.'

Strengths

  • Elite catch radius and contested-catch ability — leverages 6'7" length and basketball-bred body control to box out defenders, high-point throws, and present a massive target up the seam and along the back line of the end zone (a natural red-zone weapon)
  • Encouraging hands and spatial awareness as a pass-catcher with sneaky run-after-catch ability; per 247Sports' Gabe Brooks he 'finds vulnerable spots' as a short-to-intermediate target and showed rising production (5 receiving TDs, IFCA second-team all-state as a junior)
  • Willing, committed blocker who plays with consistent strength and flashes hand pop — not just a finesse pass-catcher, which raises his floor as an in-line option

Areas to Improve

  • Sudden explosion and play speed — evaluators flag him as a 'one-speed' athlete; improving short-area burst and acceleration out of breaks would unlock the big-play element his frame promises
  • Lower-body strength and overall mass to anchor as a true in-line Y at the SEC level; needs an NFL-style strength program to hold up against power-conference edge defenders while maintaining route mobility

College Projection

Likely a developmental redshirt or rotational year early at Texas A&M while he adds mass and refines route nuance, then a multi-year starter at the Y. Splitting time with basketball may slow his football-only physical development slightly, but his ceiling as a matchup-problem pass-catcher gives him a clear path to a featured red-zone and seam role in the SEC by his second or third season.

NFL Outlook

As a four-star (0.8967 composite) with rare size and translatable basketball traits, Jacobson profiles as a legitimate eventual NFL Draft candidate if he develops. The comparison archetype is the converted-hoops, big-bodied receiving tight end; his draft stock will hinge on whether he can add the explosion and in-line strength to be more than a situational red-zone target. Mid-round upside with developmental Day 2 potential if the burst improves.

Best Fit

A pro-style or spread offense that deploys a true Y/move tight end and prioritizes him in the red zone and on vertical seam concepts — exactly what Texas A&M's SEC offense can offer. He maximizes in a scheme that flexes him out to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties while still asking him to block in-line, letting his catch radius and basketball instincts carry the receiving load rather than relying on raw speed.

Player Comparison

TJ Hockenson Iowa • Detroit Lions/Minnesota Vikings 82% match

Similar size at 6'5" 230 lbs with an Iowa background that emphasizes fundamentals and high football IQ. Hockenson was also a highly-rated recruit who developed into a reliable, technically sound player with the versatility to play multiple roles, matching this prospect's strong evaluation metrics and regional dominance.