Film Don't Lie | Eli Raridon
Everyone knew it wasn’t going to be a long wait for someone to fill the void at tight end in the 2022 class when Jack Nickel decommitted. Notre Dame is “Tight End U” after all and recruits know that.
There is no doubt that Eli Raridon is aware of that as well as all of the other benefits of the school with his father being an alum of the university. This is much more than a legacy offer, though. Raridon is a very good prospect and yet another addition to the tight end room with NFL potential.
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 228
Projected Position: Tight End
ISD Grade: 90 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 89.3 (3-star)
What he does best:
He’s a really good athlete for his size. He moves much smoother than most tight ends who are 6’6” and has above average short area quickness. Raridon runs really well and should be someone who can be a threat down the seam.
He does a nice job working over the middle of the field. A natural hands catcher, he does well to clear linebackers and haul in the ball in traffic.
There is plenty of upside there for him to develop into an in-line option. His effort really stands out as a run blocker and he’s only scratching the surface in this area of the game.
What he needs to improve:
He currently lacks pop on initial contact. He’s more positional as a blocker who wins with effort. I love his finish, but he’ll need to add weight and get a lot stronger to handle edge defenders at the point of attack.
There are a couple of flashes of him breaking tackles after the catch, but I hope to see more of it as a senior. Part of that has to do with how he is used in his high school offense, but I’d like to see him create more with the ball in his hands.
What’s his ceiling?
Raridon has a very high ceiling. He’s going to add weight and strength and be a different player 20-30 pounds from now. A plus athlete at the position, he should be a size mismatch against safety and linebackers.
I think he can be someone who excels as an intermediate receiver and has the size and hands to develop into a serious red zone target. That’s part of the reason why Angeline is my comp for him (11 touchdowns in the last two years and over 15 yards per reception). He can be that type of a receiver and a more effective blocker that fits the physicality Notre Dame is looking for at the position.
Who he could be:
Former NC State tight end Cary Angeline
BREAKING | 2022 TE Eli Raridon Commits to Notre Dame