Jake Briningstool TE Clemson | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jake Briningstool TE Clemson
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Slot Receiving TE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/04/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.75 seconds (57%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.3 DOB: 12/09/2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Slot Receiving TE | |
| Last Updated: 03/04/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.75 seconds (57%*) | |
| Age: 22.3 DOB: 12/09/2002 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 82.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 106.6 | |
| Hands: |
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70% |
| Short Receiving: |
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66% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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77% |
| Deep Threat: |
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70% |
| Blocking: |
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50% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#157
Position rank:
#9
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| College Games: 47 College Snaps: 1932 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 95/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| AJ Barner - Michigan |
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88% |
| Cole Turner - Nevada |
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85% |
| Cade Otton - Washington |
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82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The Clemson record books now have Jake Briningstool's name etched all over them. The 6'6", 241-pound Tennessee native shattered Jordan Leggett's mark for career receptions by a tight end, finishing with 127 catches for 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns. Born into football with his father Tony playing linebacker at Michigan State, Briningstool arrived at Clemson as a consensus four-star recruit and leaves as one of only five Tigers tight ends to earn multiple All-ACC selections. After a modest freshman campaign in 2021, Briningstool steadily ascended, culminating in back-to-back Third-Team All-ACC seasons in 2023 and 2024 where he tied the single-season school record with 50 receptions and later set a Clemson tight end record with three career 100-yard receiving games. His signature moment came against Miami in 2023, where his 126 receiving yards marked the most ever by a Clemson tight end in a single game. The two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection was voted team captain as a senior, showcasing leadership alongside his on-field production.Briningstool's rise wasn't immediate - he caught just three passes as a freshman - but his development curve soared beginning in 2022 when he formed half of a historic Clemson tight end duo with Davis Allen, marking the first time two Tigers tight ends each recorded four touchdown receptions in a single season. His junior year brought the record-tying 50 receptions, while his senior campaign saw career highs with 530 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The versatile playmaker became particularly lethal in the red zone during his final season, highlighted by a two-touchdown performance against Appalachian State where he joined WR Bryant Wesco as the first Clemson duo to each record 100+ receiving yards in a game since 2020. Against Wake Forest, he notched his third career 100-yard game on seven catches including a 28-yard score off a receiver pass from Antonio Williams. Briningstool capped his college career by breaking Leggett's reception record with a 19-yard touchdown catch against Virginia Tech before finishing with strong performances against South Carolina (3-35) and in bowl action against SMU (4-23, 2 TDs).
From Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee, where he was the state's top-ranked recruit, Briningstool's journey to Clemson followed a similar path to Volunteer State products Tee Higgins and Amari Rodgers. His high school dominance included 111 career receptions for 1,955 yards and 22 touchdowns while leading Ravenwood to a 30-10 record with three playoff appearances and a state runner-up finish in 2019. As a senior, he added defensive production with 38 tackles, seven sacks, and 11 tackles for loss. Briningstool didn't just excel on the gridiron, earning his sociology degree in December 2024 while completing micro internships with Elliott Realty and Gallo Winery, showing the well-rounded approach that has defined his career.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional route runner in the intermediate areas – shows particular skill working the middle of the field with natural feel for finding soft spots between linebackers and safeties.
- Basketball-like body control at the catch point – uses his 6'6" frame and excellent height to box out defenders and high-point passes with natural timing and coordination.
- Processes coverages quickly and adjusts routes accordingly – shows veteran savvy settling into zone windows and presents a clear target for quarterbacks.
- Reliable hands in contested situations – consistently extends away from his frame to snatch passes while maintaining concentration through contact.
- Dangerous seam threat with deceptive build-up speed – long strides eat up cushion and create mismatches against linebackers stuck in trail position.
- Red zone weapon who understands leverage – consistently positions himself to shield defenders from the ball and displays natural feel for spacing near the goal line.
- Runs with purpose after the catch – doesn't go down on first contact and fights for every inch with a competitive edge that belies his slender build.
- Alignment versatility forces defensive adjustments – can line up in-line, slot, and occasionally backfield, making him a matchup problem for linebackers in coverage and smaller defensive backs in the red zone.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Severely limited as a blocker – lacks functional strength at point of attack and gets overwhelmed by NFL-caliber edge defenders when trying to seal run lanes.
- Significantly underweight frame – his 241-pound build raises serious concerns about durability and in-line capabilities at the professional level.
- Inconsistent hands catching through traffic – occasionally allows balls into his body and lacks the hand size (under 9 inches) to consistently pluck away from his frame.
- Won't threaten vertically with breakaway speed – decent forty time but lacks the explosiveness to consistently separate on deep routes.
- Struggles when defenders get physical – can be redirected in routes and has difficulty disengaging when jammed at the line of scrimmage.
Scouting Report: Summary
Briningstool projects as a specialized passing game weapon who brings immediate value on third downs and in red zone packages. His blend of height, body control, and natural receiving instincts makes him a quarterback-friendly target, particularly in the intermediate areas of the field where he consistently shows more comfort and production. Any offense employing multiple tight end sets will value his complementary skill set when paired with a traditional in-line blocker to mask his deficiencies at the point of attack.The Josh Whyle comparison fits – another tall, lanky pass-catcher whose frame limitations didn't prevent him from carving out an NFL role. Briningstool will need to add functional strength without sacrificing the movement skills that make him dangerous, but his natural receiving talent should translate quickly. His route-running instincts and spatial awareness allow him to consistently find soft spots against zone coverage, while his height creates natural advantages against man coverage, particularly in contested catch situations.
The path forward is clear for Briningstool – embrace a role as a move tight end early while developing his frame and blocking technique. Teams won't ask him to be an every-down player initially, but his receiving prowess (particularly in intermediate areas) suggests he can contribute immediately in specific packages. His ceiling depends entirely on physical development, but the foundation exists for him to outperform his draft position and develop into a valuable offensive piece with proper coaching and physical maturation.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
Jake Briningstool percentiles vs other Tight Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Jake Briningstool (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
135.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
10.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.