East Texas Tight End Major Tennison adds big pledge to 2017 recruiting class.
Following a big win over Oklahoma, the Texas coaches hit the road on the bye week to start their second half recruiting push. Texas tight end coach Jeff Traylor went back to east Texas and landed Bullard tight end Major Tennison. Tennison received his offer and committed immediately to the Longhorns. Texas beat out SMU, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech as well as interest from programs such as Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Baylor.
The tight end position has been a missing piece at Texas for nearly a decade, but the commitments of Peyton Aucoin and Tennison along with the hope of Devonaire Clarington becoming eligible give Texas hope. Tennison adds to a 2017 class that already features commitments from quarterback Sam Ehlinger and receiver Damion Miller. The early success gives Texas a leg up in 2017 recruiting having already acquired some key parts on the offensive side of the ball.
Film Analysis: At 6’6 240 lbs., Tennison has the requisite size for the position and will grow more. The growth between his sophomore and junior film is noticeable as he became thicker in the lower body. Tennison stands out as a receiving threat with long arms that expand his catch radius. His soft hands show him to be a natural pass catcher who doesn’t fight the ball. Tennison also shows good body control, which is tough for guys of his size at that age. He can play in-line or from the slot and attack the seam of the field when matched up against smaller defenders. Tennison is a decent route runner who could stand to improve and shows an ability to make yards after the catch. In the red zone he is an appealing target with the strength to make contested catches over defenders. One area where he could get better is attacking the ball in the air and using his size to high point the catch. In the run game Tennison is a willing blocker with good strength and a mean streak to finish. He does have some issues with technique that open him up and allow players to get inside of him, but those can be cleaned up with proper coaching. In space he uses good feet and athleticism to close distance and engage opponents at the second and third level. His long arms allow him to control his man and put them on skates. Tennison is a high effort player still growing into his body with potential for bigger and better things to come.
Final Verdict: As a player, there’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Tennison. His plus size and athletic ability suggest potential for growth and early playing time. While Tennison may require more development in the upper body, he should push for early playing time as the Longhorns do not currently have a player like him on the roster. If he continues on his current trajectory, Tennison should be able to be a multi year starter for the Horns with a future in the NFL.
