Preston Fryzel
Bio
Recruiting
Scouting Report
Preston Fryzel is a high-upside receiving tight end with a big frame and the athleticism to create mismatches. A productive pass-catcher for a top high school program, he shows significant potential as a dynamic offensive weapon at the next level as he adds mass and refines his all-around game.
Physical Profile
Fryzel possesses an ideal frame for a modern 'move' tight end, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing around 215-225 pounds. He has the length and catch radius to be a consistent red-zone threat and a reliable target in traffic. While currently on the leaner side, his frame suggests the ability to add significant muscle mass without sacrificing his fluid athleticism. His background as a multi-positional athlete, including wide receiver, contributes to his coordination and movement skills.
Play Style
On film, Fryzel operates as a big-play receiving threat from the tight end position. He is most effective running vertical routes, seams, and corners, using his long strides to eat up cushion and his large frame to shield defenders. He demonstrates strong hands and the ability to make difficult catches away from his body. His primary role in high school was as a detached pass-catcher, exploiting his athletic advantage in space rather than serving as an in-line blocker.
Strengths
- Ball Skills & Receiving Savvy: Fryzel is a natural pass-catcher who excels at tracking the ball and high-pointing it in contested situations. He runs routes more like a big receiver, showing an understanding of how to find open space and create separation. His junior year stats of 43 receptions for 807 yards and ten touchdowns highlight his big-play ability and productivity.
- Mismatch Potential: His combination of size and athleticism allows him to be a versatile piece in an offense, capable of lining up in-line, in the slot, or split out wide. This creates mismatches against smaller defensive backs and slower linebackers. His senior year average of 26.3 yards per reception showcases his ability to stretch the field.
- High Upside: Initially rated as a three-star prospect, his stock rose significantly throughout the recruiting process, with Rivals eventually ranking him as the No. 8 tight end nationally. This trajectory, combined with his projectable frame, indicates a very high ceiling as he develops physically and technically at the collegiate level.
Areas to Improve
- Functional Strength & Blocking: To become a complete, every-down tight end, Fryzel needs to significantly develop his functional strength. He has acknowledged that he was used more as a receiver in high school and needs to work on his run-blocking technique and physicality at the point of attack.
- Adding Bulk: While he has a great frame, he will need to add considerable mass to handle the physical demands of playing in-line against collegiate defensive ends and linebackers. His early enrollment at Notre Dame is focused on physical development to address this.
College Projection
Fryzel projects as a starting-caliber 'F' or 'move' tight end for a Power Four program. His initial impact will likely be as a situational receiving threat, especially in the red zone and on third downs. As he physically matures and develops his blocking, he has the potential to become a complete, three-down tight end by his second or third year on campus. He is enrolled at Notre Dame, a program known for producing NFL-caliber tight ends.
NFL Outlook
Given his 4-star composite rating, ideal frame, and receiving upside, Fryzel possesses clear NFL potential. His development in the strength and blocking aspects of the position at a program like Notre Dame will be critical. If he maximizes his physical tools and becomes a more well-rounded player, he projects as a mid-round NFL Draft pick with the potential to rise based on collegiate production and combine testing.
Best Fit
Fryzel is an excellent fit for a pro-style or spread offense that utilizes the tight end as a primary weapon in the passing game and moves them around the formation to create favorable matchups. A program with a history of developing tight ends for the NFL, like his chosen school Notre Dame, is an ideal environment to maximize his considerable upside.
Player Comparison
Both prospects share the prototypical 6'4", 220 lb frame that translates to multiple positions - Pitts was similarly versatile coming out of high school before becoming an elite tight end. The 4-star composite rating and top-350 national ranking mirrors Pitts' recruiting profile as a highly-rated but not superstar-level recruit who had the physical tools to develop into an elite player at the next level.