2021 3-Star Virginia Tech Tight End Target Jordan Dingle is an SI All-American Candidate
2021 3-star Kentucky tight end Jordan Dingle is an SI All-American candidate.
Dingle, who is one of the top players in the state of Kentucky for the 2021 class, is considering Virginia Tech, Kentucky, and Ohio State among others, as he evaluates his school of choice.
The 6'4", 235 lbs. Dingle is one of Virginia Tech's top targets at tight end, along with South Carolina 3-star prospect Robbie Ouzts and North Carolina 3-star prospect Jack Hollifield.
There is no immediate timetable for Dingle's commitment decision.
Over the coming weeks, SI will unveil its preseason top 10 for each of 14 position groups. SI will unveil its initial top 99 ranking, the SI99, on August 24. Thus far, the top 10 quarterbacks were unveiled by SI All-American, as well as the top 10 offensive linemen, and top 10 slot receivers.
The evaluation process will continue throughout the season “until the list of 1,000 contenders coalesces around just 25 young men who can say proudly they are the best of the best -- they are Sports Illustrated All-Americans,” said SI Director of Football Recruiting John Garcia, Jr.
The candidates will be narrowed to 250 in October and 99 in November, and will culminate with 25 first-team Sports Illustrated All-Americans saluted at SI’s annual Sportsperson of the Year banquet in New York in December.
Prospect: Jordan Dingle
Status: SI All-American Candidate
Vitals: 6-foot-4, 235 pounds
Position: Tight End
School: Bowling Green (Ky.)
Schools of Interest: Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Northwestern, among others
Projected Position: Tight End
Frame: Tall with relatively lean muscle in upper half. Appears to have put on good weight in trunk/lower half of late.
Athleticism: Runs relatively well for position with ball skills and leaping ability. More of a churner than burner with above-average deceleration and body adjustments while the ball is in the air.
Instincts: Scrappy player as both a receiver and blocker, with some finishing power with the latter. Athletic enough to execute reach blocks or get to the second level as blocker with quick breaks after the stem of routes to create separation as receiver.
Polish: Lines up attached and split out on Friday nights with the capability of constructing above-average routes thereafter. A lower center of gravity and more emphasis on his release at the line of scrimmage will balance out threat level between alignments.
Bottom Line: Dingle is a balanced tight end prospect with plus blocking ability and receiving ability attached or otherwise. He has solid hands and can pluck the ball away from his body, at the tail end of rock-solid routes at the prep level. With the frame to carry a few more pounds, he may be relegated to an H-back and/or in-line role at the next level but could sneak into the rotation relatively early on with his solid floor on all three downs.
