Kahale

Warring

Warring (6’5/252) turned pro as a redshirt junior after playing high school football for only one year, walking onto the Aztecs’ team, and tallying a 51/637/8 (12.5 YPR) receiving line across three seasons. A star prep basketball and water polo player, Warring helped himself with 79th-percentile SPARQ results in Indy, including a 4.67 forty and 36 ½-inch vertical. Sure handed and known for his tireless work ethic, Warring especially popped on game tape for his run blocking as an in-line tight end, and his arrow is still pointing up as a pass catcher. Warring is a sleeper to develop into a Kyle Rudolph-level pro. Although he’ll likely spend his entire frosh campaign developing, Warring joins a subpar tight end group led by default starter Ryan Griffin.

Warring (6'5/252) is Jeremiah’s TE4, but there’s a notable drop from T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and Irv Smith. Those top three are the consensus top three, but the fourth tight end is more up for debate. Some might put Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger or Ole Miss’ Dawson Knox here, but Warring is also in the mix as a quality athlete with some upside. Warring is new to the sport, so his best football is theoretically ahead of him, but it may be a big jump from San Diego State to the NFL.

“One of the reasons why you can expect to hear plenty of other tight ends mentioned by anonymous scouts in the build-up to the 2019 NFL draft is that they may be trying to keep Warring – an ascending prospect who played just one year of high school football - a secret,” writes Rang. As he also notes, the production wasn’t elite with the Aztecs, but that had more to do with the system they ran than anything against Warring (6'5/252). Don’t be surprised if he goes early on Day 3, even in this loaded tight end class.

“Tight end coaches from the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles were on hand to watch Warring, who has already worked out privately for the Miami Dolphins,” writes Pauline. Warring (6'5/252) didn’t put up big numbers with the Aztecs, but much of that has to do with the scheme San Diego State ran on offense, and some less-than-spectacular quarterback play. “Warring displayed an expanded route tree, caught the ball extremely well and looked strong in blocking drills,” Pauline adds. This is a loaded tight end class, but Warring could be a steal on Day 3.

Miller labels Warring (6'5/252) as a “Wow” athlete, and he showed it at the NFL Scouting Combine with an 80th percentile SPARQ athletic composite score. Warring has been getting a lot of hype from draft analysts over the past month and for good reason. He only began playing football as a senior in high school and continued to improve dramatically each year. Miller believes Warring can be a team’s second tight end and will likely be drafted on Day 3.

Heap was a star in the NFL for a team at the tight end position, so yeah, this is a flattering comparison for Warring (6'5/252). “He’s exciting to project because he hasn’t played that much football and he still has big-time flashes, an NFC scout told Zierlein. “He’s one of those guys who was good at everything in high school athletics, and that usually translates out on the field.” Zierlein has more high praise in his overview of Warring. “He has the competitiveness to handle run-blocking duties and the talent to line up in the slot,” he writes. “While his production won’t catch your eye, his tape does with quickness and ball skills that should make him a more productive target in the NFL than he was in college.” Very intriguing, indeed.

Warring (6'5/252) produced an 80th percentile athletic composite score at the NFL combine and has been labeled a “big riser” by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Warring was viewed as a Day 3 selection prior to the combine but may be in consideration for a Day 2 selection at this point.

Warring (6'5/252) was one of several tight ends who stood out in Indianapolis, and posted a SPARQ score in the 80th percentile at the event. “On the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, Warring looked smooth during the drills,” Brugler writes. “In the gauntlet, he did a great job using his body control and coordination to track, adjust and finish on the move.” Brugler believes it’s possible that the former Aztec has moved into Day 2 consideration now. This tight end class is loaded.

Warring (6'5/252) excelled in the athletic testing, posting an 80th percentile SPARQ score. This was good for fourth in this year’s athletically-gifted tight end class behind Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson (87th percentile), LSU’s Foster Moreau (89th percentile), and Iowa’s Noah Fant (98th percentile). Ledyard believes Warring shows “shocking polish as a route runner” and “maintains quickness out of his breaks.” After his strong performance at the NFL Scouting combine, Warring will likely be selected sometime on Day 3.

Warring (6'5/252) was not utilized to extreme degree in the passing game during his collegiate run at San Diego State -- the Aztecs are a run-run-run team -- but he’s not completely lacking for athleticism. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler views him as among the more underrated prospects in this class, while NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compares the Day 3 hopeful to former Ravens TE Todd Heap.