Kaleb Kraus ('20) is an athletic, move TE out of San Antonio with a game that resembles that of a Darren Waller or Travis Kelce. He creates mismatches whenever he is on the field with his athleticism and is not afraid to get dirty with blocking.
In August, GMTM’s Joey Grant and former USC Quarterback Max Browne evaluated his tape live on Twitch. Here’s what they thought:
The tight end position has been revolutionized over the last ten years, as the position has seen an influx in talent and athleticism. Kaleb Kraus fits that mold, as his athleticism pops off of the screen on his very first play. Kraus is lined up in the slot but showcases his speed to get behind the defense for a big play.
Kaleb is an imposing figure at 6'4" 225 pounds, so that speed makes him a nightmare for defenses to try to cover. His tape is filled with all kinds of examples of his speed and athleticism, as well as clips of him using his physicality to run over defenders.
Sparkle can be a quarterback's best friend at the next level, as his big frame gives him a large catch radius. That play is a great example of it, as his quarterback misses him high, but Kaleb is able to use his wingspan and vertical to go up and get it. QB's tend to favor targets who can still make a play on errant throws, so he has great potential as a security blanket.
Kaleb shows polish as a route runner as well, as he sells the stop-and-go double move well in this clip. An athletic, big TE who can run routes well and gain separation is a massive asset in the red zone, and Kraus possesses that ability. It also doesn't hurt when he can make spectacular catches like the one below.
That catch is extra spectacular in that it can qualify as a candidate for both Toe Drag Swag and You Got Moss'd. Joey pointed out that it looked like a Rob Gronkowski catch. High praise.
The only thing that Joey and Max wanted to see more of from Kaleb was a little bit of blocking. There were some examples of him being physical in the run game and return game, but a couple of examples of him stonewalling a defender or engaging in a pass rusher would help take him to the next level.
- Athletic mismatch waiting to happen at TE
- Wide catch-radius and ability to make spectacular grabs
- Demonstrated potential as a route runner
Kaleb "Sparkle" Kraus is an offensive weapon that fits the direction the game and position are going. With slight refinement to his blocking, he can become a true mismatch on all three downs and make an awesome impact for a program at the next level.
