NFL Draft Profile: Charlie Kolar, Tight End, Iowa State Cyclones
#88
Pos: TE
Ht: 6064
Wt: 252
Hand: 1000
Arm: 3448
Wing: 8118
DOB: 2/10/99
Eligible: 2022
Norman, OK
Norman North High School
Charlie Kolar
Iowa State Cyclones
Pros:
Kolar is a tall, long tight end that offers size at the line of scrimmage as a blocker and over the middle as a receiver. He has strong hands at the catch point to haul in contested passes. Also, he looks like a very natural pass catcher in general with how he uses his hands and his ability to snatch the ball out of the air. He can be physically imposing on smaller linebackers covering him and has the ability to win with pure strength in his routes. Possesses solid footwork at the tip of his routes to portray suddenness in the way he creates separation. As a run blocker, he displays the effort required to be an effective in-line blocker. Kolar has the versatility to line up as a traditional in-line tight end, h-back and as a receiver split out wide. He proved to be a very trustworthy target for his quarterback in big-play situations. He uses his length well and makes his body big as a receiver, knowing that he can use his catch radius to his advantage. It’s easy to tell that he has experience with the way he can find soft spots in zones to get open.
Cons:
The Iowa State tight end is extremely limited athletically. He is slow, both in close quarters and in terms of long speed. His release off the line is nothing to be scared of as a defender and his route running isn’t up to par because of the lack of quickness. He won’t really be able to affect the game in the vertical passing game as a downfield threat up the seam unless there is a lapse in coverage. When he is blocking in space, he lacks the body control on the run to be able to consistently block in that capacity. Occasionally will take bad angles when blocking in space as well. Doesn’t have the anchor to be an effective pass blocker.
Summary:
Charlie Kolar is an experienced, big-bodied tight end from the Iowa State Cyclones. He is a natural catcher of the football who has proven to be a reliable target for his quarterback over his collegiate career. He wins with strength and intelligence, rather than athleticism as a route runner. He will be fairly limited to just a safety valve role over the middle of the field because of his lack of speed. He can at least contribute as a formidable run blocker from an in-line position.
Background:
Born February 2nd, 1999 in Norman, Oklahoma to parents Randy and Maria Kolar, Charlie Kolar was an outstanding athlete at Norman North High School. A three-year starter and two-year all-conference performer, the current Cyclones’ star made the Scout All-Midlands First-Team and the Preseason Oklahoma Super 30 as one of the state’s top players. As a junior, Kolar recorded 52 receptions for 920 yards and 13 touchdowns. In his final campaign, he posted 66 receptions for 1,240 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to a 12-1 record and a Class 6A-1 state championship game. He received first-team all-state honors. After his senior year, Kolar was listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports Composite Rankings. The service ranked him the 1208th-overall recruit nationally, the 57th-best tight end in his class and the 20th player from his year in Oklahoma. After redshirting his freshman season, Kolar broke out in 2018. He played in all 13 games and started three. He made 11 receptions for 137 yards. His three touchdowns were good for third on the team and tied for fourth-ever among Iowa State freshmen. In 2019, Kolar started 10 of 13 games. He ended the year third on the team in receptions with 51, second-most ever for an Iowa State tight end. His 697 receiving yards were also third on the team and the most ever for an Iowa State tight end. His team-leading seven touchdowns were the 10th most in school history and the second-most among tight ends in school history. He was first among Big 12 tight ends and sixth nationally among FBS tight ends in catches per game. He was sixth in receiving yards per game and tied for fourth in touchdown catches. Kolar was named a Second Team All-American by FWAA and PFF. He was listed as a Third Team All-American by AP. Further, the Oklahoma native was made First Team All-Big 12. An academic standout, he was both First Team Academic All-American by CoSIDA and First Team Academic All-Big 12. He was one of the eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award. No Iowa State Cyclone before him had been named an All-American and an Academic All-American. In 2020, Kolar started five of his 11 games played. He led all Big 12 tight ends with 44 receptions, 591 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Those scores were tied for second-most among tight ends and 10th-most all-time in Iowa State history. His catches and receiving yards rank fourth and second respectively all-time among Cyclone tight ends. Kolar was top-five nationally among tight ends in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. After his outstanding year, he was named a Second Team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and AFCA. The AP made him a Third Team All-American. Kolar was also listed as First Team All-Big 12. For the second straight year, the Norman North product was a First Team Academic All-American by CoSIDA and a First Team Academic All-Big 12 honoree. He was one of the three finalists for the John Mackey Award. Kolar is the first Iowa State two-time All-American since the 1990s. An incredible student off the field, Kolar had a 3.99 GPA while earning his degree in mechanical engineering; he is now pursuing a postgraduate degree in finance. A National Merit Scholar and member of the National Honor Society, the standout tight end received Iowa STate’s Alumni Associations Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award for seniors who display high character, outstanding achievement in academics and university and community activity. Part of an athletic family, Kolar’s brother, John, played quarterback at Oklahoma State for four years before graduate transferring to Iowa State in 2019. His mother played volleyball at Notre Dame.
One-Liners
Arguably one of the best tight ends in Big 12 history, Charlie Kolar’s excellent hands and ability at the catch point do not outweigh his underwhelming play strength and speed.
Grades
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
6.2 / 7.3
Floor/Ceiling: TE3 / Backup
Scheme Fit: In-Line in Spread Concept
Grade: 6th Round
Injury History: Missed 2021 season opener because of an ankle sprain.
Character Notes: Seemingly a stand-up, smart guy with his honors earned off the field.
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