PFF tabs Utah’s Dalton Kincaid as one of top TE prospects for 2023 NFL Draft
Utah has had a draft pick in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft three times in the last four years. Devin Lloyd was a first-round selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars in April.
Could the Utes make if four-for-five next season?
The folks at Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently tabbed fifth-year senior Dalton Kincaid as the No. 2 draft prospect at tight end for the 2023 Draft in an early positional look at the next class of pros.
Here’s what PFF’s Michael Renner wrote on Kincaid:
“If (Notre Dame TE Michael) Mayer is No. 1 in terms of refined receiving ability in this class, then Kincaid is No. 1B. Kincaid’s background as a former receiver recruit is evident. … The way he gets off the line of scrimmage as well as the way he gets in and out of his breaks is precisely what evaluators want from a receiving weapon at the next level. He also has some darn good hands, too, as he hasn’t dropped a single pass on 37 opportunities at Utah while going 7-for-9 in contested opportunities last season. He is a little on the older side as a fifth-year player, but Kincaid likely returned to continue remaking his former wide receiver frame, as he’s still listed on the smallish side at 6-foot-4 and 242 pounds.”
Kincaid was an FCS All-American at the University of San Diego in 2019 before transferring to Utah. He led all FCS tight ends in yards per catch (19.0) and ranked second for total yardage, producing 835 yards and eight scores on 44 receptions.
At Utah, he’s been part of a dynamic duo with Brant Kuithe, giving the Utah passing game some serious versatility. He was an all-conference honorable mention last season, posting 36 receptions for 510 yards and eight scores. His 14.2 yards-per-catch clip was third among Pac-12 tight ends.
No doubt, Kincaid isn’t ready to turn his attention to the NFL Draft yet. After the program’s first Pac-12 title, Utah is looking for a College Football Playoff appearance in 2022.
During the Utah spring game, Kuithe said the “CFP is definitely the goal this year.”