50 Best of the Non-BCS: Number 45
The countdown rolls on with our first tight end sighting, and first player to be featured from C-USA.
#45: TE Cody Slate, Marshall
The Verdict: With four straight losing seasons, Marshall University hasn't exactly been drawing national media attention as of late (well, that is unless you factor in a Matthew McConaughey appearance) but in Cody Slate the Thundering Heard have one of the most consistent and reliable tight ends in the country. Slate is one of those players who has put up solid numbers for seemingly forever (three straight seasons with 500+ receiving yards) but never quite makes it on the 'short list' of the country's most talked about tight ends. What separates Slate from other tight ends in the non-BCS conferences is his ability to separate in the downfield passing game. While he's a solid possession receiver, Slate has above average speed for his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame, and even toted an impressive 15.9 yard per catch average during his freshmen season. A particularly effective red zone target, Slate should not only top 200 career catches in 2009, but he should put himself in a position to hear his name called on draft day.
Past Players: [#50: Navy LB Ross Pospisil] [#49: Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews] [#48: Wyoming DT John Fletcher] [#47: BSU WR Briggs Orsbon] [#46: EMU QB Andy Schmitt]
