Friday evening brought forth a historic moment in college football history. Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is one of the top tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he's been a big-time riser this fall. His latest game against Miami, Ohio, was a record-breaker.

In his first 11 games, Fannin established the regular season receiving record for FBS tight ends with 1,295 yards, surpassing Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro, who had 1,240 yards in 12 games. 47 more yards came against the RedHawks on Friday. 

With 1,342 receiving yards over 12 games, Fannin was just 11 yards shy of breaking Amaro's full-season record set during his 2013 Bowl Game.

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Fannin's 100 receptions in 12 games place him second all-time for regular season receptions by an FBS tight end, just behind James Casey’s (Rice) 104 receptions in 2008. Casey holds the full-season record with 111 receptions, including his bowl game.

He's gone under the radar when it comes to the NFL draft. Just a junior, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder from Canton, Ohio, is a big-time matchup nightmare. It's not hard to see him becoming a multi-faceted weapon in a creative offense. 

Here's a scouting report overview.

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This season, 111 of his snaps occurred in the slot and 136 in-line, showcasing his versatility. Bowling Green effectively utilizes this by isolating him against linebackers and defensive backs, allowing him to dominate these matchups. He has forced 29 missed tackles and won 10 contested catches.

While NFL teams often hesitate to invest in hybrid talents due to concerns over their blocking abilities, Fannin stands out in this regard.

 He has graded as an above-average blocker in the run game over 233 snaps and has committed only seven penalties across 587 run snaps throughout his career. Also, according to Pro Football Focus, his blocking skills have improved each season.

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The receiving abilities and athletic qualities highlight a flexible tight end with potential mismatches in the passing game. His quick acceleration, natural catching ability, and exceptional yards after catch (YAC) skills for the position enable offensive coordinators to create advantageous matchups through varied alignments.

However, his smaller stature and light frame suggest a role as a versatile piece rather than fulfilling traditional inline responsibilities. While his athletic testing supports his ability to stretch the field vertically, his limited experience against top-tier competition raises concerns about his immediate impact.

His value on Day 2 stems from his athletic potential and versatility across all three downs, although his size limitations could restrict his overall upside. Finding the right scheme will be essential; teams focusing on heavy 12 personnel in search of a traditional Y tight end may want to look elsewhere.