Adam Breneman

... The Senior Bowl has long been known for inviting small school prospects and allowing scouts an opportunity to get an "apples to apples" comparison alongside prospects from FBS programs but savvy talent evaluators already know Breneman, a graduate transfer from Penn State who signed with the Nittany Lions as the top-rated prep tight end in the country back in 2013 despite missing his senior season due to injury. Breneman lived up to his hype as a true freshman at Penn State, emerging as one of the Nittany Lions' top targets as the year went on. He caught just 15 passes for 183 yards on the year but his three touchdowns came in the final three games of the season. Unfortunately, a knee injury suffered in the spring of 2014 forced him to redshirt that season and complications in his recovery limited him to just two games in 2015. Frustrated and having graduated from in just three years (Business Management), Breneman announced plans to retire from football, writing a letter to the Penn State faithful. He left school and became the campaign manager for Mike Regan, a man running for state senate. After helping Regan win the seat, the senator showed how much he valued Breneman's help, offering the then-21 year old the top position as chief of staff. As Breneman's political future was ascending, his knee was healing. He began running routes and catching passes with his former high school quarterback, Andrew Ford, who played at Massachusetts. It didn't take long for Ford to relay what he was seeing to his head coach, Mark Whipple, who knew Breneman well, as his son - Austin - was a quarterback at Penn State and was Breneman's roommate when the two played together with the Nittany Lions. Though new Penn State head coach James Frankin attempted to re-recruit Breneman when he decided that he would try to return to football, the coach ultimately relented and granted the tight end his release. After catching only two passes for six yards in the team's opener in 2016, Breneman caught touchdowns in his next two games and closed out the year with six touchdown catches in his last five games. By season's end, he was the FBS tight end leader in total receptions (70) and ranked second in total yards (808) and touchdowns (eight), earning All-American honors from some publications and earning a semi-finalist acknowledgement from the Mackey Award. Clearly the top target for a UMASS squad that finished the season just 4-8, Breneman's production slipped a bit in 2017, though he still finished his fifth and final collegiate season as the top-ranked tight end in the nation in terms of receptions per game (5.8) and second for most receiving yards per game (69.5), recording 64 receptions for 764 yards and four touchdowns overall to earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Breneman's size, soft hands and athleticism made him a virtual man amongst boys at this level. The biggest question moving forward is the health of his two surgically-repaired knees, making the medical evaluations at the Combine even more important to his final ranking than his performance in Mobile. BACKGROUND Rated the No. 1 tight end in the nation by ESPN.com, the No. 2 tight end by Scout.com and 24/7Sports.com and No. 3 by Rivals.com 2013... Under Armour All-American and all-state player... All-time leading receiver in Cedar Cliff history and the all-time leading tight end in Pennsylvania high school history (in all receiving categories). Combined for 132 receptions, 1,988 yards and 20 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior seasons. Member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll student. Earned his bachelor's degree in business management in December 2015 from Penn State and is pursuing a master's degree in business at Massachusetts in the Isenberg School of Management... Father, Brian, was a standout player at Delaware Valley College, earning a spot on the Associated Press Little All-America team.

in our view

Breneman is one of the feel good stories of the 2018 NFL draft but make no mistake, he is a legitimate top 100 prospect based on talent as well as his intangibles. He is a smooth route-runner with soft hands, projecting as a quality security blanket and red zone specialist.

strengths

Possesses a solid, athletic frame for the position with broad shoulders, long arms and good overall weight distribution, as well as room for additional muscle development. Varies his release off the line of scrimmage, showing quickness, agility and core strength to get free. A good route-runner with the enough straight-line speed to threaten the seam and strong lateral cuts to gain separation. Accelerates smoothly, showing some breakaway ability. Breneman's best attribute is his soft mitts and long arms, which make him a viable receiver even when covered. Offers a large catch radius for quarterbacks, showing very good body control, flexibility and timing on his leaps to make tough grabs of passes thrown high and low. Does not shirk from contact as a receiver or as an in-line blocker. Keeps his knees bent and butt down as a blocker, competing to the whistle. -- Rob Rang 12/27/2017

compares to

Dennis Pitta, Ravens (retired). The 6-4, 245 pound Pitta was one of the NFL's more reliable short to intermediate targets over his seven seasons in the NFL, recording 224 receptions for 2,098 yards and 13 scores before chronic hip injuries cut his career short.

weaknesses

Can improve his pre-snap focus, as too often he is a beat slow off the ball and reacting to opponents moving rather than anticipating... Sports a naturally large frame but is not a bulked up prospect... Competitive but not a dominator as a blocker and may need to play more of an H-back or move tight end role rather as a traditional in-line blocker in the NFL... Does not appear to be an explosive leaper on tape. Comes with clear medical red-flags... Underwent surgery on both knees, including for a torn ACL (2012) and on the complications which arose from an injury initially diagnosed as a bone bruise (2014) which led to his brief retirement. - Rob Rang 12/27/2017

2013 Under Armour All-American and all-state player for head coach Jim Cantafio at Cedar Cliff High School

Rated the No. 1 tight end in the nation by ESPN.com, the No. 2 tight end by Scout.com and 24/7Sports.com and No. 3 by Rivals.com

ESPN.com five-star recruit

All-time leading receiver in Cedar Cliff history

All-time leading tight end in Pennsylvania high school history (in all receiving categories)

Combined for 132 receptions, 1,988 yards and 20 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior seasons

Member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll student.

Son of Brian and Sherri Breneman

Father, Brian, was a standout player at Delaware Valley College, earning a spot on the Associated Press Little All-America team

Earned his bachelor’s degree in business management in December 2015 from Penn State

Pursuing a master’s degree in business at Massachusetts in the Isenberg School of Management

High school teammate of current Minuteman QB Andrew Ford.