Our rookie scouting reports combine film and analytics to provide the best possible predictions for player performance. With the 2023 NFL Draft less than a month away, let’s take a look at the scouting report for Penn State TE Brenton Strange.
Brenton Strange NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Tight End
- School: Penn State
- Year: Senior
Strange was a four-star recruit out of Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, West Virginia. After receiving offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Purdue, Strange elected to play college football at Penn State.
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Strange barely played as a freshman, appearing in just one game. That qualified him for redshirt status, which he wound up not utilizing anyway.
He was more involved as a sophomore, catching 17 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Strange’s usage increased every year he was in college, culminating in his final season, where he caught 32 passes for 362 yards and five touchdowns. Overall, Strange hauled in 70 receptions for 755 yards and 11 touchdowns during his four years at Penn State.
Brenton Strange Scouting Report
Strengths: Athletic move tight end prospect with reliable hands. Fires off the snap, stays square, and shows ability as a position blocker. Quickly releases into pass routes, immediately gets to top speed, and moves well around the field.
Fast enough to stretch the field. Stays low exiting routes, extends his hands, and makes the reception away from his frame. Shows good awareness as both a pass catcher and blocker. Makes a lot of athletic receptions and is effective running after the catch.
Weaknesses: Struggles finishing blocks and must improve his playing strength. Gets very choppy-footed in and out of breaks. Production the past two seasons can best be described as average.
Overall: Strange caught my eye in 2021, then improved his game last season. He looks more like an oversized possession receiver than a tight end and catches the ball well. Strange comes with an upside and must improve his playing strength as well as his route running, but he offers possibilities as a second TE who can develop into a No. 1 in time.
Brenton Strange Combine Measurements and Results
- Height: 6’3 3/4″
- Weight: 253 pounds
- Arm Size: 31 1/2″
- Hand Size: 9 5/8″
- Bench Press: 23
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.70 seconds
Penn State TE Brenton Strange Current Draft Projection
On Tony Pauline’s latest Big Board, Strange ranked 118th overall and is projected to be drafted in the fourth round. With a 3.55 grade, he is Pauline’s TE8 in this class.
College production is the best indicator of NFL success, but Strange was not particularly productive in college. With that said, he’s been garnering a lot of praise for things that don’t show up in the box score.
Strange’s film is better than his numbers. He’s a very good athlete, posting a 74th-percentile speed score, and has good size and speed for the position. Strange was also a heavy contributor on special teams, which could be enough to get him a spot on the active roster even as a rookie.
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Being a Day 3 pick is never what a prospect wants, but going relatively early on Day 3 would bolster Strange’s chances of not only making an NFL roster but seeing the field relatively quickly.
There are also reports out there that Strange has a shot to sneak his way into the third round. That would all but guarantee a meaningful role on an NFL roster.
Strange likely won’t see a ton of playing time right away. Yet, he has the tools to thrive at the NFL level. It’s also not out of the question that he could emerge into a team’s TE1 at some point in his career.