Rob Gronkowski, TE

Though he doesn't have Jermaine Gresham's big name, the 6-6, 265-pound Gronkowski could compete with the former Oklahoma star at the top of tight end rankings if he can prove he's healthy. Proving his health, however, is the big question as Gronkowski, who missed the entire 2009 season due to injury.

Voted a third-team All-American in 2008 after he caught 47 passes for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing the first three games due to illness (mono), Gronkowski entered the 2009 season on the John Mackey Award watch list. A lingering back injury in the preseason, however, ultimately required "Gronk" to undergo surgery, ending his season -- and as it turns out, his collegiate career.

Despite having only two seasons under his belt, the 20-year old Gronkowski is Arizona's all-time leading tight end in various categories, including the single-game, single-season, and career leader in receptions (75), receiving yards (1,197) and touchdowns (16).

Blessed with great size, good athleticism and soft hands, he's a true threat on short and intermediate routes and a better blocker than Gresham or most of the other tights in this class. If not for the injury concerns, this all-around performer would be a first round cinch. But now team doctors will have the final say on how fall he'll fall.

Release: Good initial quickness off the snap. Quick enough that he was often lined up wide in this offense. Good use of hands to fight through the initial jam by the defender when coming out of the three-point stance. Good lateral agility to elude and get into his route quickly. Good acceleration and at least adequate straight-line speed to challenge defenders down the seam.

Hands: Considered his best skill. Soft, reliable hands to pluck the ball outside of his frame. Good flexibility for a man his size. Can bend low to get the ball off his shoe-tops or reach high and wide to snatch it out of the air. Can track the ball over either shoulder. Good concentration to catch the ball with defenders draped over him. Typically catches the ball with his hands, but will body-catch when he feels a big hit coming to protect the ball. One area he'll need to improve on in the NFL is timing his leaps. Allows shorter defenders to knock the ball out of his hands by misjudging his leap, not fully using his natural size advantage and failing to high-point the pass.

Route running: Gains a quick release off the snap and has enough straight-line speed to challenge down the seam. Good use of shoulder and head fakes to get the defender leaning and has good body control and balance to change directions quickly. Understands where the holes in the zone are and settles nicely. Varies his speed to gain a step against defenders more athletic than he is.

After the catch: Isn't going to make many people miss due to his elusiveness, but is a physical, throw-back type tight end with the ball in his hands. Tough to bring down due to his toughness, strength and determination.

Blocking: A legitimate in-line blocker. Provides a solid pop to the defender off the snap and works to sustain. Good lateral agility to mirror the defender and has the hand strength and accurate hand placement to latch on. Good strength to ride the defensive end in pass protection or against the run. Reliable seal blocker on the edge and is surprisingly effective driving defenders off the ball. Not as effective getting to and blocking at the second level, though he appears to have the natural skills to ultimately be successful in this area.

Intangibles: Has to prove he's healthy after missing the entire 2009 season due to back surgery and concerns over nerve damage. Underwent a microdiscectomy on Sept. 24, but only began running and working out extensively in January. Good bloodlines. Brother, Chris, is a senior H-back from the Wildcats and a potential NFL prospect. Another brother, Dan, played tight end for Maryland and, as a seventh-round pick, appeared in two games as a rookie for Detroit.

NFL Comparison: Jason Witten, Cowboys

The best tight end in Arizona annals, and earning deserved acclaim as the best in the country, certainly a plausible claim with his brand of athletic big-man talent … Has the entire package of blocking skill, open-field power and speed, route-running and catching ability.

Gronkowski missed all of the 2009 season because of a back injury that required surgery.

Gronkowski was a third-team AP All-American in 2008 and the first-team All-Pac-10 tight end … Arizona single-game, -season and career records holder for receptions, yards and touchdowns by a tight end … Probably more important in running game … Despite missing first three games of 2008, he finished with 47 receptions for 672 yards and team-high 10 scores - five of those in his first two games back … Twice he earned John Mackey National Tight End of the Week honors - once after career 12-143 game at Oregon that almost helped UA overcome huge deficit … Touchdown to catch ratio of 1:5 … Has three career 100-yard games including the UO outing, a 4-115 contest vs. WSU in 2008 and a 5-109 outing vs. WSU in 2008 … Three TDs against Washington in '08 are career best.

Honorable Mention All--Pac 10. He had 28 receptions and led the team with an 18.8-yard average, plus scored six TDs.

2009: Underwent back surgery, missing the entire season.

2008: Missed three games with mononucleosis.

Woodland Hills High School, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2007 … SuperPrep All-America … PrepStar All-America … One of the top tight ends in the East … As a senior, Gronkowski earned first team Class 4-A Associated Press All-State honors … Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22" team and first team All-Conference by the Gazette … Harrisburg Patriot-News "Platinum 33" team … Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Terrific 25" team … Gronkowski caught eight passes for 152 yards and four touchdowns … Caught 36 passes for 648 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior, with 73 tackles and six sacks on defense … Earned first team All-Western New York and second team All-State honors … East meets West All-America game in Florida in early January 2007 … Also a standout basketball player, averaging 21 points and 18 rebounds in 2006 as one of the top centers in western New York, and played at WHHS his senior year.

Academic major to be determined … Grew up in Williamsville, N.Y., in suburban Buffalo area where he played his first three years at North High School, before moving to Pennsylvania for his senior year … Father, Gordon Gronkowski, owns a string of national fitness retail outlets including five in the Pittsburgh metro area … Brother, Chris, is a reserve utility player on UA baseball team … Date of birth: May 14, 1989 …