Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Prieskorn was a recruit from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High School in Orchard Lake, Mich. in the class of 2018
Ole Miss’ Caden Prieskorn is in the conversation for being the most productive tight end in the SEC this coming season. Prieskorn has in-line and slot versatility and is one of the best zone beaters in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Caden Prieskorn, TE Ole Miss: 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt senior tight end from Lake Orion, Mich.
Background: Prieskorn was a recruit from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High School in Orchard Lake, Mich. in the class of 2018. He didn’t receive a star ranking from any major recruiting services upon leaving high school or his post-graduate stop at Fork Union Military Academy. The former high school quarterback walked on for Memphis in 2019 before transferring to Ole Miss for the 2023 season. Prieskorn passed for 200 yards in Orchard Lake St. Mary’s victory in the 2016 State Championship Game. He converted to tight end once he reached the college level. Prieskorn also lettered in basketball. He was born on Sept. 21, 1999.
Injuries & Off-Field: An injury shortened his season at Fork Union Military Academy, missed the first three games of 2023 after undergoing surgery in August for the fourth metatarsal (foot), is married and has a young son
Awards: 2022 Second Team All-AAC, 2022 First Team All-AAC (PFF)
Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return and field goal units, experience operating in the slot and in-line with some H-back, long arms, broad shoulders, good release speed, good faking blocks before slipping out on a route, quickly decelerates to work back down the stem, subtle push offs to gain separation, separates in the latter half of downfield routes vs. linebackers, natural at finding space in zones, plays the sticks well, good hands catcher who adjusts to off-target throws, ball tracking, toe tapper on the sideline, decent speed after the catch, block with a wide base, finds defenders to put away on pulls and leads blocks, hustles to block for teammates downfield, size helps to overwhelm DBs and smaller LBs
Cons: Age, penalized seven times in 2023, limited dynamic athleticism, lacks top end speed for a TE, not a field stretching force, doesn’t threaten to blow past off-man coverage, gets jammed by press or slowed by mid-route contact, absorbs too much contact at the top of the route, route running generates inconsistent separation, won’t break many tackles, not twitchy or elusive, loose with the ball as a runner, pad level when blocking in-line, lacks finishing mentality as a blocker, inconsistent angles and foot speed to maintain second level blocks, occasionally overpowered in pass pro
Overview: Prieskorn is coming off a 2023 season in which injuries limited his playing time and effectiveness until the final stretch of games. These injuries caused him to be rusty and contributed to him racking up seven penalties in his first six appearances, but he pulled it together and wasn’t flagged in the season’s final four games. Prieskorn is one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class. He has special teams experience on the kick return and field goal units and primarily aligns in the slot, in-line, and at H-back. The class of 2018 recruit has long arms and broad shoulders that give him an ideal frame for a tight end who wins at the catch point and contributes in-line. Prieskorn releases off the line quickly but lacks the dynamic athleticism and top end speed to stretch defenses vertically or stack defenders in off-man coverage. It’s easy for defenders to get their hands on Prieskorn near the line of scrimmage because of the tight end’s large frame. Press and mid-route contact further slow down his routes, and he’s not explosive enough to absorb as much contact as he does at the top of the route. Prieskorn’s route running generates inconsistent separation against man coverage, but he uses subtle push-offs to create space at the top of the stem. The Michigan native also tends to separate in the latter half of routes against linebackers, opening just enough of a throwing lane for his quarterback. He is good at faking blocks before slipping out on a route. Prieskorn decelerates with surprising quickness to work back down the stem on short to intermediate routes. He is a natural at finding space against zone coverage and has a bright future as a zone beater. The former Memphis standout plays the sticks well and serves as Ole Miss’ chain mover on third down. He adjusts well to off-target throws and displays impressive ball tracking. Prieskorn taps his toes on the sideline for catches and is a natural hands catcher. He offers decent speed after the catch but won’t win many foot races or break many tackles. Prieskorn isn’t an elusive or twitchy athlete, and he’s occasionally loose with the ball as a runner. He doesn’t have the best block strength, but his build helps him seal lanes and frame blocks well. Prieskorn’s blocking isn’t always consistent, but he has assembled a nice highlight reel of blocks. He blocks with a wide base and makes good plays pulling or lead blocking in the run game. Prieskorn hustles to block for teammates downfield and uses his size to overwhelm defensive backs and linebackers. He blocks with a high pad level and lacks a finishing mentality. The former high school quarterback takes inconsistent angles to second level blocks and sometimes lacks the footspeed to mirror defenders in space.
Overall, Prieskorn is a zone-beating tight end with the ideal measurables and build to contribute as a blocker in the run game. His lack of dynamic athleticism limits his natural separation as a route runner against man coverage, but his catch radius and ball tracking prevent him from being blanketed.
Role & Scheme Fit: In-line tight end with slot versatility
Round Grade: Mid Fourth to Early Fifth Round
Size: 6'5", 255 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 07-13-24