2022 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: TE Charlie Kolar, Iowa State

There's a lot to like about potential Day 2 tight end prospect Charlie Kolar out of Iowa State, writes Nick Falato.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Apr 6, 2022 8:00 AM EDT

In this story:

Charlie Kolar, TE

Height: 6’6 ½”
Weight: 252 lbs.
Class: RS-Senior
School: Iowa State
Arm length: 34½”
Hand size: 10”

A former three-star recruit out of Norman, Oklahoma, where he attended Norman North High School, Kolar was the 57th ranked tight end, and the 20th Oklahoma recruit, during the 2017 cycle.

Kolar’s parents were professors at the University of Oklahoma; that was his destination but they never extended a scholarship, so he attended Iowa State.

Notables

Iowa State tight end Charlie Kolar (88) runs to the sideline during a NCAA college football game in the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. — Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kolar was a John Mackey Award finalist in 2020 where he earned third-team All-American honors with a first-team conference bid. He caught 44 passes for 591-yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. He followed that stellar season up with another Mackey finalist bid, and another first-team All Big-12 honor.

Kolar caught 62 passes for 756-yards with six touchdowns in 12 games during the 2021 season. He was an Academic Heisman and he won the William V. Campbell Trophy: awarded to one player in the FBS who combines classroom excellence and on-field play with his work in the community.

Kolar aligned mostly as a slot, but was plenty capable when he was inline. While inline, he typically was the outside tight end on a double-Y or even triple-Y set. He’s not the best blocker, but he is a try-hard one who could possibly improve.

Kolar was used a lot on quick game out routes and stick, while stretching the field with dig routes, over routes, and go/seam balls. He also did a solid job quickly presenting a target in the quick game with hitches and slants.

There are a ton of things to love and respect about Kolar. He was accomplished on the field and great in the classroom. He attended the Reese’s Senior Bowl and made a solid impression before heading to Indianapolis for the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. He did not test, but his size, length, and big hands are all noteworthy.

Strengths

Charlie Kolar — Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Elite size and catch radius, with big hands
Solid overall athlete for a tight end
Has diversity in his ability to release from the big-slot position
Comes off the line well and gets through trash
A good overall route runner
Uses deceptive shoulder fakes and a hard outside foot jab to freeze defenders at the top of breaks

Q4, 9:47, 2nd & 6 vs Clemson - scored a touchdown in the red zone, breaking open into space after an excellent fake at the top of an inside break

Solid use of hands at the top of breaks to create extra separation
Isn’t dynamic with his ability to create separation, but creates enough
Despite a lack of elite speed, Kolar’s spatial awareness and route running allowed him to find space up the seam - can be a vertical threat
Smart player who consistently works back to the quarterback
Excellent at high pointing the ball away from his frame and securing

Q1, 10:47, 2nd & 10 vs Texas
Q4, 14:25, 2nd & 6 vs Texas
https://twitter.com/nickfalato/status/1511465765622337544

Climbs the ladder with no fear over the middle of the field
Great hands that are soft and extend in front of him
Good adjustment ability when the ball is in the air, tracks the ball very well
Solid in contested catch situations; both his 2021 drops were when he was coming down and a safety hit him before he could secure
A try-hard blocker who is solid in space
Technique needs work, and he’s not great vertically driving defenders, but he did a great job to spring multiple Breece Hall runs when he was tasked to block in space and use his hip fluidity and quick feet to cut off smaller defenders angles
Excellent mental processing and competitive toughness - coaching staffs will love this player
Has a fearless quality over the middle of the field with many defenders in his area

Can Improve

Mar 2, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State Cyclones tight end Charlie Kolar during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. — Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Isn’t overly explosive or sudden with his movements
Won’t take the top off of defenses, modest play speed
There’s isn’t a ton of lateral agility or elusiveness to his game after the catch
Marginal play strength as a blocker (better in space)
Struggles at the point of attack - when moving vertically - on the line of scrimmage as a blocker
Hands and center of gravity work against him when base blocking
Was inconsistent on back-side cut blocks - didn’t seem to judge aiming points well

Summary

Overall, Charlie Kolar is a smart, savvy, route runner with nuance who creates enough separation to be effective at the NFL level, despite only being a solid athlete. Kolar’s ability to high point balls away from his frame and present a gigantic target and catch radius for his quarterback are valuable traits that can be leveraged on third down, and in the red zone.

He’s a gritty player who lacks the necessary play strength to consistently displace EDGE rushers as a Y TE. He has the frame to be a Y, but needs to be a more consistent blocker. He could start his career as an F/H with the ability to take limited snaps as a Y; once he gets stronger and develops, he could possibly take a larger role in that area.

He’s not a deficient blocker -- and is actually pretty good in space with hinging defenders away from the RB -- but he’s not great in base situations. Kolar may be available on day three and he’s a great option for the Giants if New York forgoes the TE position on Day 2.

GRADE: 6.24