NFL Draft Profile: Blake Whiteheart, Tight End, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
In this story:
Blake Whiteheart
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
#85
Pos: TE
Ht: 6037
Wt: 247
Hand: 0868
Arm: 3218
Wing: 7938
40: 4.70
DOB: 3/22/2000
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
High School: Mount Tabor
Eligibility: 2023
One-Liners
“A solid blocker, Whiteheart doesn’t have the pass catching tools or upside to be thought of as anything more than a borderline tight end two or three.”
Evaluation:
On film, Whiteheart is used as a blocker for the most part. He is tasked a lot of the time with blocking defensive ends and acting as a sixth offensive linemen in the pass game. As a blocker, Whiteheart displayed great grip strength to latch onto defensive ends and sustain his blocks. He has good enough foot quickness and agility to mirror defensive ends in the pass game. In the run game, Whiteheart is more of a position blocker but he was very effective. Whiteheart can play with his hands too wide and head too far forward, which could lead to problems with balance and holding calls at the next level. When he keeps his hands in tight, Whiteheart has some really good reps. He’ll never be an elite blocker but he could be a very good one with some development in that regard. As a receiver, Whiteheart lacks explosiveness off the line. He is a slow mover, who doesn’t have build up speed either. His route running was also not very great. Better linebackers had no issue sticking with Whiteheart throughout the entirety of the play, he is going to have a hard time separating. Whiteheart is a stiffer player and he struggles to cut or break down. He is going to have a limited route tree in the NFL. The best aspect of Whiteheart’s game as a receiver are his hands. Whiteheart uses his length to catch the ball away from his body and he usually catches the ball cleanly. His catch radius and body control are very good. Overall, Whiteheart isn’t going to provide much value as a wideout but he should be a very good blocker at the next level. At best he can be a tight end two but most likely, he’ll be a tight end three.
Grade:
5th-6th Round
Background:
Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended Mount Tabor High School and was rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports. Played at Wake Forest University. Decided to redshirt his first year. As a redshirt freshman played in twelve games and was part of the special teams unit. During the shortened 2020 season, he played nine games, totaling five catches for sixty-one yards. As a redshirt sophomore, he played in fourteen games, totaling fifteen receptions, 185 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns. During his redshirt junior season, he played in twelve games, totaling twenty-four catches for 295 yards, and three receiving touchdowns.
