Davin Stoffel, TE Illinois: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Stoffel was a two-star recruit from Mosinee High School in Mosinee, Wis. in the class of 2023
The Illinois Fighting Illini have a crowded tight end room that now includes South Dakota State transfer Davin Stoffel. Stoffel never saw significant volume during his two seasons with the Jackrabbits but appears to have all the physical traits to contend for a top 100 selection in either the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft.
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Davin Stoffel, TE Illinois: 2026 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt sophomore tight end from Mosinee, Wis.
Background: Stoffel was a two-star recruit from Mosinee High School in Mosinee, Wis. in the class of 2023. He was an unranked two-star recruit in Rivals and didn’t receive a star rating or grade out of 100 from 247Sports or ESPN. Stoffel transferred from South Dakota State to Illinois for the 2025 season. He amassed 51 receptions for 1,013 yards and 17 touchdowns on offense and 123 tackles with 14 tackles for loss as a linebacker during his high school senior year. Stoffel was an All-State selection at linebacker and won the 2022 Al Toon Award as the top high school receiver in the state of Wisconsin. He earned First Team All-Great Northern Conference Football honors from On Focus and was the outlet’s choice for both the conference’s Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year selections. Stoffel also played baseball for Mosinee and scored more than 1,000 career points with the basketball team.
Injuries & Off-Field: Suffered a leg injury in the fall of 2022 during a high school game, missed 2024 Augustana (S.D.) game after he played a limited number of snaps vs. Incarnate Word
Awards: 2024 MVFC All-Newcomer Team
Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, punt coverage, and field goal units, massive frame with room for development, arm length should meet thresholds, high-caliber athlete with explosive basketball background, nice burst off the line, long strides to eat up the defender’s cushion, impressive vertical push at his size, speed to stretch defenses up the seam, moves with the quarterback when the pocket breaks down, stiff arm, good angles to blocks on linebackers, smart usage of angles to steer defenders out of plays, size gives linebackers issues in the run game, resets hands to maintain blocks, power finisher who goes for pancakes
Cons: Never been a high-volume receiving option, takes on too much contact early in route, underdeveloped route runner, takes too long to decelerate at times, rounds routes, drifts at top of route stem, needs to get through his breaks with cleaner form, limited experience working deep portions of the field, slows down to locate the ball, not a significant tackle breaker despite size, inconsistent power and mean streak in run game, pad level going into blocks exposes chest and limits effectiveness of leg drive, two-handed punches are vulnerable to spins, must tighten hands and add counters
Overview: Stoffel took snaps in-line, the slot, and at H-back in 2024 and contributed on the kick return, punt coverage, and field goal units. He never played a high-volume role as a pass catcher and only has one season with notable production. However, Stoffel’s impressive frame and speed suggest he could develop into a threatening offensive weapon. His frame and arm length should meet, if not surpass, the league’s desired thresholds. The redshirt sophomore explodes off the line with the burst and long strides to stress defenses vertically. It’s rare to find a tight end with Stoffel’s size who’s also capable of winning up the seam. He needs more experience operating in the deep third to perfect his skills and comfort level down the field. Stoffel must spend significant time refining his route tree. He passively absorbs too much contact early in the route and rounds his routes at the top of the stem. The Wisconsin native needs to get through his cuts with better form and precision to maintain his speed and generate more natural separation. His large frame limits his ability to suddenly decelerate and win on routes breaking back down the stem. Stoffel works back to the quarterback and relocates when the play breaks down. Sometimes, he slows down to locate the football, which allows defenders to close and contest receptions. The former two-star recruit throws a nice stiff arm but isn’t a natural tackle breaker despite towering over his opponents. Stoffel takes impressive angles in the run game to find and block linebackers, and his size makes him a pain for second and third level defenders to counter. He’s better at using his understanding of angles to turn and twist defenders out of gaps than outright displacing them downfield. Stoffel resets his hands to maintain blocks and finish plays. He flashes the play strength to pancake defenders but lacks the power and mean streak to consistently displace and dominate opponents. Stoffel’s tall frame causes him to lose the leverage battle in the run game. He needs to protect his chest better by tightening his punches and deploying more independent hand usage.
Overall, Stoffel is an intriguing but unproven prospect with impressive flashes and natural tools that can’t be taught. He might need another year as a secondary or tertiary tight end option before being ready to step into a starting role in the Power Four. Stoffel generates mismatches in the run and pass games with his size, speed, and athletic profile.
Role & Scheme Fit: In-line tight end with slot versatility
Round Grade: Fourth Round
Size: 6'6", 260 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 04-09-25