Jace Amaro
Texas Tech, TE/H-Back
Height: 6.4
Weight: 260
40yd: 4.74
Age: 22
|
Stats |
|||||
|
Year |
G |
Rec |
Yd |
Avg |
TD |
|
2011 |
12 |
7 |
57 |
8.1 |
2 |
|
2012 |
7 |
25 |
409 |
16.4 |
4 |
|
2013 |
13 |
106 |
1,352 |
12.8 |
7 |
Athleticism: B+
Has very good playing speed for a TE. Is not explosive, but has smooth acceleration to pull away vertically. Lit up the combine. Has a 33” vertical jump and 118” broad jump. Extremely dangerous in the red zone and is difficult to cover for his size/speed combo. Strong runner after the catch and can pick up additional yardage after the catch.
Hands: A
Very good catch radius. Able to scoop low passes. Capable of boxing out safeties and is tough enough to work the middle. Can appear tentative at times when running over the middle and in traffic, likely extending from a lacerated spleen and rib fracture he suffered on a hit in 2012. Adjusts well to throws and catch the ball over the shoulder of defenders. Caught nearly 75% of passes thrown his way and is very sure handed. Did not have a concentration drop in film study.
Technique: B+
Not consistently explosive out of his stance, even from a two-point stance. Will bounce out of his stance and occasion and chop his feet. Shows little difficulty getting around contact near the line of scrimmage. Is able to easily get behind the defense when he comes cleanly off the line. Is quick to transition after the catch. Can be content to run his route and will not always look to get open when he is covered. Does not sink his hips when making cuts and is not overly sudden in his routes. Was usually wide open in Tech’s spread offense and will need to adjust to being covered on a consistent basis.
Blocking: D-
Not used much as an inline blocker. Has no trouble handling smaller defenders and is able to open up running lanes on the outside. Gets a lot of movement when he squares up on a defender, but is not consistent enough in doing so and can get shed fairly easily at times, especially against D-linemen.
Intangibles: D+
Played at Texas Tech, a school that has always been questioned in terms of producing pro prospects. Basically was a slot receiver during his final season under Kliff Kingsbury. Was ejected from 2012 bowl game for throwing a punch and was arrested for credit card fraud as a freshman. Had perhaps the best performance of any TE at the combine.
Red Flags: System Player, Character Concerns
Bottom Line: Amaro’s junior season was one for the ages in terms of the tight end, and one which put him firmly on the map as a top TE prospect in the draft. Amaro is the highest upside player at the TE spot in a number of years, given his excellence as a receiver, in spite of his relative inexperience as a pro-style player. It’s difficult to grade Amaro out as a first round prospect because of the transition he has to make coming out of Texas Tech, but he certainly has all the tools to ascend to a Gronkowski/Graham level TE.
Comparison: James Casey
Grade: 8.7 (2nd Round)
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