NFL Analysis
11/5/24
7 min read
Harold Fannin Jr. 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Bowling Green State Eagles TE
Height: 6040 (unofficial)
Weight: 230 (unofficial)
Year: Junior
Pro Comparison: Jonnu Smith
Scouting Overview
Bowling Green State tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is an offensive weapon who can provide a slew of layers into an offensive playbook. His natural receiving skills are evident when watching him catch targets and pluck the football with his hands.
What makes Fannin Jr. a potentially special player is all the other ways he can impact play design. He’s been given touches out of the backfield with success and lined up on the perimeter for screen game in addition to his traditional targets and even been given direct snaps.
I’m not sure his NFL menu will be quite as vast, but there is more to work with than your usual flex tight end if you want to invest in building it into your personnel groups and play design. Fannin Jr. should be considered a complementary weapon to an NFL passing offense and should find some level of meaningful reps quickly upon his entry to the pros.
2025 NFL Combine Results
TBD
Positives
- Delightful versatility as an offensive weapon, winning routes from the slot, executing designed touches, and more
- Has very good hands and concentration to haul in targets in high-traffic areas
- Run after catch/contact skills afford offense-created chunk plays
Negatives
- Will likely be a non-factor in the blocking elements of the position, particularly pass protection
- Would ideally be a bit more explosive for a player of his stature
- Separation against physical man-cover defenders may be a work in progress in the pros
Background
Fannin Jr. grew up in Canton, OH, and played his high school football for McKinley HS. As a two-way athlete, Fannin Jr. shined as a defensive back, wide receiver, and returner, earning All-State honors his senior season after posting in excess of 100 tackles with six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.
As a receiver, Fannin Jr. logged more than 600 yards and eight total scores in his senior season. Despite his versatility, he failed to garner much attention on the recruiting scene and was unranked prior to enrolling at Bowling Green State and converting to tight end.
Fannin Jr. quickly found his footing with the Eagles program, playing in 12 of 13 contests as a true freshman. He posted five total scores (4 rushing) while illustrating a diverse, offensive weapon role for the team. Things expanded during Fannin Jr.’s sophomore campaign in 2023, as he developed into a big play receiver capable of playing in a slew of alignments. He was awarded 2023 First-Team All-MAC honors for his performance.
His 2024 campaign is his best yet. Fannin Jr.'s explosive play abilities helped him to quickly crush the program’s single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end despite playing up in competition against the likes of Penn State and Texas A&M (both on the road).
Tale Of The Tape
Fannin Jr. offers unconventional versatility at the tight end position. This is not a traditional presence at the position by any means. He lacks the frame and mass to play as an in-line player next to the tackle on a down-by-down basis.
Instead, he receives targets out of the slot or backfield, is given schemed touches on jet motions and direct snaps, and thrives with the ball in his hands as a run-after-catch athlete. Fannin Jr.’s development across three years at Bowling Green leaves him on a fascinating growth trajectory as well. It is notable that he’s only played the tight end position since arriving on campus.
Fannin Jr. comes with some assurances that will help boost his stock. He has tremendous hands and loose shoulders to boost his catch radius. More than one target he’s received this season has come in high and hot, and Fannin Jr. still showcased the ability to throw his hands up high to corral the target.
That catch radius is applicable to the middle of the field, too. He’s a tough target in traffic and willing to showcase the needed concentration to brace for contact and still pull in targets running through zones and at risk of a big hit.
His versatility is rooted in his alignment and potential with the ball. Fannin Jr. takes less than 50 percent of his snaps in-line (approximately 45 percent for his career), but he’s seen his usage as a perimeter player double during his senior season. Bowling Green motioned him into the backfield and ran him inside on handoffs, lined him up next to the quarterback, and then walked the quarterback out for direct snaps, ran jet motion for handoffs and touch passes with speed to the edge and more to go along with his receiving targets.
As a route runner, his most frequently run routes include out routes, shallow crosses, go’s, and hitches. There’s enough variety to believe he can continue to grow and be a successful talent without all the added bells and whistles Bowling Green offers him for added touches.
I do think Fannin Jr. has room to grow as a route runner from a precision standpoint. Ideally, he offers a bit more separation ability. He has the burst and agility to become more precise with his routes, considering how well he does with both traits once he’s secured the football.
Fannin Jr. isn't an elite play speed player, but he’s plenty fast enough and surprisingly quick in a short cut to redirect his frame and make a cut to break a pursuit angle.
He should not be relied on for much as a pass protector. Expect him to be used in routes in passing concepts compared to someone you can toggle and add to the protection scheme. Bowling Green has done it, and he simply lacks the punch power, body mass, leverage, and anchor to be impactful.
He’ll give good strain, but you can tell that he hasn’t been charged with doing it much at all (approximately 6.5 percent of career passing down reps have come in protection). That’s a blank slate for an NFL coach, but one that the team would be wise not to count on early.
The blocking profile expands to point-of-attack work in the run game, as well. He should be regarded as a wide receiver in this front, where he can offer angles on crack toss or climb up to a safety and help capture an angle on the second level.
Coaches who insist on playing him in 11 personnel as the tight end will be selling their run scheme short unless they have a killer front five that can generate movement without a sixth body in the core.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Harold Fannin Jr. projects best into a personnel-diverse offense run by a creative play-caller. His versatility offers a doorway to positionally ambiguous football and many clever schemed touches and usage.
However, he should not be considered a turnkey option, and coaches who simply want to plug a tight end in as an in-line option should look elsewhere. More so than a traditional tight end, Fannin Jr. is a big slot option.
Grade: 74.50/100.00, Third Round Value
Big Board Rank: TBD
Position Rank: TBD
