Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has been among college football's most surprising revelations this season. A dominant prospect at the position, Fannin Jr. has elevated his pre-draft stock into the first-round conversation. He's currently in the mix to be the top overall tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The No. 34 overall prospect in our latest Draft Network 100 prospect rankings update, Fannin Jr. has exploded out of his shell this season. The Canton, Ohio native is our second-ranked tight end as things stand, trailing just Michigan's Colston Loveland (No. 6 overall) for now. Fannin Jr. may leapfrog Loveland by season's end.
Fannin Jr. has been downright dominant this season. The Falcons standout just recorded 10 receptions for 171 yards, averaging an explosive 17.1 yards per catch in Saturday's blowout victory over Kent State. It was Fannin Jr.'s fifth 100-yard game in seven appearances this season.
Fannin Jr. ranks first among all tight ends in the entire nation in receiving yards with 873. The next closest tight end, Penn State’s Tyler Warren, is 360 yards behind him (513). Fannin Jr. is third in receiving yards among all pass-catchers, wide receivers included, trailing just Ole Miss' Tre Harris and San Jose State's Nick Nash. He’s also scored five touchdowns in seven games.
A former safety and wide receiver at McKinley High School, Fannin Jr. is making breathtaking plays on a weekly basis. Against Kent State, he made this one-handed catch, gluing the ball to his helmet. He's an extremely coordinated athlete with rare, natural gifts.
Nice grab by Harold Fannin Jr. here.#RatedProspect
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) October 19, 2024
pic.twitter.com/161jPiF43b
Fannin Jr. is also unphased by tight coverage. On this record-breaking touchdown, Fannin Jr. makes a leaping grab over a cornerback before scampering for a 59-yard score. He's capable of manufacturing explosive gains.
There Goes That MAN!!!
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) September 28, 2024
Harold Fannin Jr. goes 59 yards on the record-breaking touchdown. The junior now holds the BGSU record for receiving TDs by a tight end with 11 😤
BGSU leads, 21-17.
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/D8nkVocCZk
As a pass-catcher, Fannin Jr. is an outstanding three-level route-runner. His versatility and yards-after-catch ability make him a legitimate weapon who consistently creates mismatch opportunities. Though he's considered undersized by traditional standards, Fannin Jr. is a high-level blocker in the run game on tape. He's sudden and strong when attached to the line of scrimmage and is Pro Football Focus' highest-graded blocker among all qualifying tight ends.
Naysayers may point to Fannin Jr. being a "small school" player. The dual-threat playmaker responded to those criticisms by putting forth a resume-defining game against Penn State in early September. Fannin Jr. torched the Nittany Lions for 11 receptions, 137 receiving yards, and a touchdown.
Loveland entered the new season as a perceived foregone conclusion as the top tight end, but his campaign hasn't gone according to plan. The Wolverines performer has been an unfortunate victim of Michigan's non-existent passing game. Loveland has totaled just 344 receiving yards through six games with his Wolverines averaging a Big Ten-worst 128.3 passing yards per contest.
Fannin Jr. will weigh all potential outcomes before making a decision. Returning for another season of college football, whether at Bowling Green or elsewhere via the transfer portal, is a tempting option. If Fannin Jr. ultimately decides to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he'll be in the conversation to be the first tight end selected.
