Gavin Bartholomew, TE Pittsburgh: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Bartholomew was a three-star recruit from Blue Mountain High School in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. in the class of 2021

Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew is a high motor player with good functional strength. He occasionally generates big plays after the catch and is a capable blocker. Bartholomew projects as an early to mid-day three selection in the 2024 NFL Draft if he puts together a productive campaign this season.

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Gavin Bartholomew, TE Pittsburgh: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior tight end from Schuylkill Haven, Pa.

Background: Bartholomew was a three-star recruit from Blue Mountain High School in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 1,324 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,289 for On3.com. Bartholomew was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 73 grade out of 100. He originally committed to Buffalo before flipping to Pittsburgh. Bartholomew played defensive end, punter, quarterback, and tight end in high school. He amassed 27 receptions for 527 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. Bartholomew completed 36 of 66 passes for 521 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns while playing quarterback as a senior. That year, he made six receptions for 131 yards and two scores. He was born on April 30, 2003.

Injuries & Off-Field: Exited 2022 Rhode Island game with a shoulder injury

Awards: 2021 Honorable Mention All-ACC, 2021 Second-Team Freshman All-American (The Athletic, PFN)

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, punt coverage, and field goal units, experience working as an H-back, in-line, in the slot, and out wide, muscle mass is evenly distributed, good functional strength throughout frame, well-built with sturdy frame, long strider, covers ground and gets to his top speed quickly off the line, lowers his shoulder to play through contact, finishes falling forward, finds the holes in zone, high effort player, keeps working to get open when the play breaks down, top speed is good enough to generate YAC opportunities, well-framed blocks, drives legs as a run blocker, walls off edge rushers to keep rushing lanes open, good hand placement and leverage blocking, at his best as a blocker when allowed to play downhill, nice clamp strength, upside to become a consistent displacing blocker

Cons: One season of intriguing production, low contested catch rate, arm length appears average to below average, not a sudden or twitchy athlete, lacks high-end top speed, catches the ball close to his body and suffers from occasional bobbles or drops, occasionally late and gradual in his release, routes are more rounded than sharp, stalled by contact early in the route, doesn’t separate from slot defenders, doesn’t threaten defenders sitting in off-man, doesn’t sink hips, needs to get his head around for the football sooner, allows defenders into his chest as a blocker, technique and footwork to sustain blocks are inconsistent, poor awareness as a blocker, blocking GPS needs refinement

Overview: Bartholomew does a little bit of everything for the Panthers. He takes snaps on the kick return, punt coverage, and field goal units while lining up at H-back, in-line, in the slot, and out wide. Bartholomew has good functional strength throughout frame. He’s a long strider who quickly gets to his top speed. The former three-star recruit is a high-effort player who finishes runs falling forward and breaks tackles with power. He also works to get open when the play breaks down. Bartholomew finds the holes in zone and has enough speed to generate yardage after the catch. However, he’s not a sudden or twitchy athlete and lacks a threatening top speed. Bartholomew is occasionally late and gradual in his release, and he doesn’t threaten defenders sitting in off-man coverage. The junior lacks the speed and agility to separate from slot defenders. He doesn’t sink his hips and runs rounded routes. Despite his size, Bartholomew is stalled or rerouted by contact early in the route. He catches the ball close to his body and suffers from occasional bobbles or drops. Some of his routes take too long to develop, and he never gets his head around to present the quarterback with a target. Bartholomew’s arm length appears average to slightly below average, which sometimes leads to defenders getting into his chest when he’s blocking. His technique and footwork to sustain blocks are inconsistent, and the Pennsylvania native shows poor awareness as a blocker. Fortunately, he frames blocks well with good hand placement, leverage, and a strong clamp. Bartholomew drives his legs as a run blocker to walk back or manipulate the defender. He walls off edge rushers to keep rushing lanes open. Bartholomew has the potential to develop into a high-level blocker capable of displacing defenders.

Overall, Bartholomew makes up for his average athleticism and occasional drops with his high-effort plays, yards after the catch, and contributions as a blocker in the run game. His abilities to separate against man coverage and create downfield against disciplined defenses are in doubt, which prevents him from earning a Day 2 grade.

Role & Scheme Fit: In-line Y tight end with slot versatility

Round Projection: Fourth Round

Size: 6'5", 255 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 04-12-23