2023 NFL Draft Small-School Prospect To Watch: South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft

While you may have heard the name Tucker Kraft in some NFL draft circles, the big South Dakota State tight end is a name you should hear plenty of come next April. Kraft is set to follow in the lineage of some other big-name stars that put the Jackrabbits on the national map.

Tucker Kraft Carries the South Dakota State Torch

South Dakota State has been one of the most successful FCS programs of the past half dozen years and presently ranks as the No. 1 team in the division. The problem for the Jackrabbits? They play in the Missouri Valley Conference, the same conference as the North Dakota State Bison — the top program in FCS the past half dozen years.

The Jackrabbits haven’t had a lot of players selected in the draft. Yet, the earliest picks have been tight ends – Dallas Goedert and Steve Heiden, the third-round pick of the then-San Diego Chargers back in 1999, presently coaching with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Philadelphia Eagles made the aforementioned Goedert the 49th selection of the 2018 NFL Draft. Goedert acquitted himself well from the start, allowing the Eagles to eventually trade Zach Ertz, and has 233 receptions and 18 touchdowns in his brief NFL career.

Kraft looms as another developing tight end at South Dakota State and could be a step above Goedert.

Kraft is the highest-rated non-FBS player on my big board. He is highly thought of in the scouting community and the top next-level prospect on a team that possesses three additional pass catchers expected to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Week 8 riser is big, athletic, and fast. He’s a stout pass-catching TE that adjusts to the errant throw, snatches the ball out of the air with his hands, and takes a pounding yet holds onto the reception.

Consistent and reliable, Kraft shows route discipline, terrific eye/hand coordination, and comes away with the difficult catch battling opponents. He also possesses the ability to get downfield and make big plays.

As for his blocking, Kraft willingly gets a pad on defenders and knocks them from their angle of attack.

Since pointing out Kraft as a next-level prospect a month ago I’ve heard from lots of people — in the scouting community as well as outside of it — on how much they like his Sunday potential.

Most of the love thrown Kraft’s way comes from his sophomore film of 2021 when he caught 65 passes for 773 yards with six touchdowns. This season he’s only played in four games as Kraft injured an ankle in the season opener, missed a month and a half, then returned in time to contribute to the Jackrabbits’ victory over North Dakota.

I’ve been conservative on Kraft’s grade and presently stamp the tight end as a third-round prospect, though I think he’ll go higher if he continues to produce on the field.

So would the junior enter the NFL draft despite missing six games with a bum ankle? I’m told it’s possible and something Kraft will likely take up after the season.