Scouting Profile: Harold Fannin Jr. - TE - Bowling Green
Sales Pitch: Uber productive tight end who shines with the ball in his hands. Skillset will relegate him to rotational duties due to blocking limitations.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Harold Fannin is a former unrecruited WR prospect from the state of Ohio. He primarily operated as a rotational player his first two seasons before breaking out in a big way during his junior campaign. Fannin was the MAC OPOY in 2024, as well as a 1st Team All-American after setting FCS single season TE records for both receptions and yards.
Fannin is a receiving first tight end with solid athletic ability. He was extremely productive as the focal point of Bowling Green’s passing attack doing most of his damage underneath and after the catch. Fannin is at his best as a separator versus off/zone coverage on crossers and slants. Bowling Green looked to get him the ball in space quickly on screens and other designed touches to take advantage of excellent YAC ability. His change of direction skills and contact balance are very good for a tight end and allow him to rip off chunks gains consistently with the ball in his hands. Fannin didn’t operate a ton down the field but does display the ability to run the seam and attack the ball at its apex. He has strong dependable hands that attack the ball away from his frame in all directions. Fannin lacks the size to be an impact blocker, but he plays with good effort and doesn’t shy away from contact with bigger defenders. He is at his best as a move blocker sliding across the formation, or inserting up in the hole from wing alignments.
Fannin is a very small tight end with below average arm length and power, and will be limited to a flex-TE/F role at the next level as a result. He cannot be asked to put his hand in the dirt as true Y due to his blocking limitations. Fannin lacks the strength or size to handle down linemen one on one in the run game. His short arms limit his ability to lock out and control reps, despite good initial hand placement, and most Front-7 players are able to discard him and cross his face. Fannin is better as a blocker in space, where his lack of size is less of an inhibitor, but average redirect skills limit his ability to sustain and mirror for long stretches of time. Fannin projects as primarily a receiving threat at the next level, but unlike most move-TEs he lacks the top end fluidity and explosiveness required to be a difference maker. He is not athletic enough to be flexed out into the slot and trusted to run a full route tree like a slot receiver. Fannin’s lack of blocking impact combined with receiving profile that requires a specific use case to be productive, limits his ability to be a full time starter.
Fannin profiles best as an F in an offense that uses a FB or H-Back. His impact might not be as significant as his record setting production might indicate, but his YAC ability and blocking effort from the backfield are an intriguing skillset in the right system. Fannin projects as a late Day-2 priority Day-3 pick, who can be a useful weapon for an offenses skill position room.