Josh Whyle Named Top-10 Senior NFL Tight End Prospect

CINCINNATI — UC tight end Josh Whyle made the Mackey Award Preseason Watchlist, and he's high on a major draft analyst's projections as well. The Athletic's Dane Brugler listed Whyle as the country's seventh-best senior tight end.

Overall, Whyle is the 18th-ranked tight end on the consensus big board. Right now, he isn't a lock to get drafted, but he is in a great position to boost his stock closer to that top-10 with another strong showing in 2022.

Whyle posted 26 catches for 332 yards and six touchdowns (second among all Bearcats) in 2021. It was nearly a mirror image of 2020 (28 catches, 353 yards, six touchdowns) and a sign that he didn't miss a beat after Gino Guidugli took over playcalling from Mike Denbrock.

With Alec Pierce gone and a stable of veterans back along the offensive front, Cincinnati has the makings of a heavy 12-personnel unit. That means a lot of snaps for Whyle, who could end up leading the team in touchdowns after finishing second to Pierce during the College Football Playoff run.