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Detroit Lions initial draft outlook: Tight ends

The college All-Star games are coming up over the next two weeks with the NFL combine on the horizon in February.

Many players drafted in May will play in one of the three games for seniors or from the underclassmen pool. Over the next two weeks, along with our positional outlooks, we’ll give a few names to pay attention to over the next month. Remember, these lists will be fluid as the draft process continues.

Previous outlooks: Quarterbacks; Running backs; Receivers

East-West Shrine Game:

No. 80 West: Blake Bell, Oklahoma (6-6, 260): Transitioned from quarterback to tight end in 2014 and caught 16 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns. He started most of the season at tight end and would be a project player at the position. Probably a UDFA.

No. 85 West: MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois (6-2, 250): He was named the best tight end in Missouri Valley Conference history and a first-team FCS All-American by the AP and AFCA. He holds the Missouri Valley career records in receptions (211), yards (2,601) and touchdowns (25) for tight ends.

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl:

No. 80 American: Westlee Tonga, Utah (6-4, 244): Tonga had 30 catches for 391 yards and four touchdowns this season. He is older than most prospects in his class due to a LDS Church Mission he took in Las Vegas. Tonga is also married.

No. 87 American: Eric Tomlinson, UTEP (6-7, 270): Based on his build, he would fit more as a blocking tight end who could grow into a tackle like Michael Williams. UTEP’s website described him as primarily a blocking tight end. Tomlinson had 30 catches for 304 yards as a junior in 2013. Also, I highly recommend checking out his bio picture on the UTEP website.

No. 84 National: Devin Mahina, BYU (6-6, 251): He had 46 catches for 554 yards and five touchdowns in his career. Like Tonga, he served a LDS mission, but his was to Antananarivo, Madagascar. He’s also an Eagle Scout, and he’s married. For a guy like Jim Caldwell, these character traits have come into play before (see last season’s draft). Also, the Lions have a history of drafting BYU players.

Senior Bowl:

Nick Boyle, Delaware (6-5, 273): Rated as the No. 8 tight end by ESPN, Boyle was a FCS All-American and two-time All-CAA pick. He caught 101 passes for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Newark (Delaware) Post said he was used more as a blocking tight end during his senior season.

Others:

Rory “Busta” Anderson, South Carolina (6-5, 227): Rated as the No. 10 tight end by ESPN. He had 22 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown as a senior.

Mike McFarland, South Florida (6-5, 252): He didn’t start full time until his senior season. Began his career at Florida before transferring. Had 55 career catches for 643 yards and two touchdowns.