Experienced NFL scout praises new Michigan State football TE Jack Velling

I think at this point in the offseason, we’re all aware of how good Michigan State football’s transfer portal class is. The star of the class is obviously quarterback Aidan Chiles, but there are countless other new Spartans who will have a huge impact on the team this year.

One of those players is tight end Jack Velling, another transfer who came from Oregon State after Jonathan Smith.

Velling has already had an outstanding college career. Last season alone, he led the FBS with eight tight end receiving touchdowns.

Velling has two years of eligibility left, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t make the NFL next year. And 18-year-old NFL scout Jim Nagy agrees.

The above post is quite long, but Nagy does an excellent job of breaking down the few things he likes about Velling’s game while also discussing areas where he can improve.

Nagy said, “Jack Velling runs well enough to be a threat in the seam (see UCLA video), and OC Brian Lindgren has cleverly planned many red zone targets for him.”

I don’t know about you, but that’s something Michigan State has been missing in a tight end for some time. A guy who can move vertically and make big plays while also being effective in short yardage and in the red zone.

However, Nagy talked about one key area that Velling still needs to work on, and that is blocking. Nagy said, “Velling will need to continue to improve as a blocker this fall for NFL scouts to evaluate him as a starter, but he certainly has enough talent to be a backup in the league.”

Although Velling still has some areas to work on, Nagy already seems to believe he’s good enough to be an NFL player. MSU hasn’t had many NFL-ready players on the team lately, and when you’re not having success, it’s important to be successful. But it seems like Smith is changing quickly.

I have a feeling Velling will become a fan favorite as the season progresses, and we will most likely see a lot of touchdowns from Chiles as well.