TE Alex Honig makes NYT College Football Freaks List 2025

[huskymedic]

-> No. 39 Alex Honig, Connecticut, tight end

At 6-7, 270, Honig, a former quarterback from Bavaria, Germany, began his college career at TCU. He moved to tight end after a redshirt season and played in 12 of 15 games during TCU’s run to the title game. Honig won the starting job last season in large part because of his blocking ability, but he did have six catches, with three for touchdowns. At 6-7, 270 pounds with just 14 percent body fat, some scouts think he could project to offensive tackle at the next level because of his hulking frame and impressive athleticism.

There is a lot here. He’s cleaned 395 pounds — the most UConn strength coach Tyson Brown’s ever seen in his 16 years in the business. Honig, who has 11-inch hands, also benched 225 for 30 reps. He vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10-5. Honig would’ve been a pretty hot commodity had he gone in the portal this offseason, but he is very loyal to coach Jim Mora and the Huskies.

“He is a phenomenal guy with as good of a work ethic and character as I’ve been around,” said Brown, who has coached at Mississippi State, Baylor, Washington and Washington State. “He’s a big-time leader for us.” <-

 

[Husky68]

-> No. 39 Alex Honig, Connecticut, tight end

At 6-7, 270, Honig, a former quarterback from Bavaria, Germany, began his college career at TCU. He moved to tight end after a redshirt season and played in 12 of 15 games during TCU’s run to the title game. Honig won the starting job last season in large part because of his blocking ability, but he did have six catches, with three for touchdowns. At 6-7, 270 pounds with just 14 percent body fat, some scouts think he could project to offensive tackle at the next level because of his hulking frame and impressive athleticism.

There is a lot here. He’s cleaned 395 pounds — the most UConn strength coach Tyson Brown’s ever seen in his 16 years in the business. Honig, who has 11-inch hands, also benched 225 for 30 reps. He vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10-5. Honig would’ve been a pretty hot commodity had he gone in the portal this offseason, but he is very loyal to coach Jim Mora and the Huskies.

“He is a phenomenal guy with as good of a work ethic and character as I’ve been around,” said Brown, who has coached at Mississippi State, Baylor, Washington and Washington State. “He’s a big-time leader for us.” <-

So he jumps as well or better than Cooper Flagg showed at the NBA combine and his broad jump would tie for best TE at NFL combine. Nice.

 

[huskymedic]

UConn’s Alex Honig Named to College Football Freaks 2025 List - University of Connecticut Athletics

STORRS, CT – UConn tight end Alex Honig (Bavaria, Germany) was named to the 2025 College Football Freaks List published by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman on Mo...

uconnhuskies.com

 

[gioff2323]

The idea of moving him inside at some point is intriguing, both at college and pro level. Would love to see more output from TE position this year.

 

[Jetskies]

soooo... why isn't this guy a tackle yet? If he had as much promise at tackle as this article claims, it would seem like a no-brainer to make the change right now in college, to better position himself for NFL. his earning potential would probably be greater as a really good (or even just a "good") tackle, than as an OK Tight end.

UConn would have moved him over by now, with the exit of our 2 tackles...

 

[Jimdish255]

soooo... why isn't this guy a tackle yet? If he had as much promise at tackle as this article claims, it would seem like a no-brainer to make the change right now in college, to better position himself for NFL. his earning potential would probably be greater as a really good (or even just a "good") tackle, than as an OK Tight end.

UConn would have moved him over by now, with the exit of our 2 tackles...

A tight end with those measurements should be part of your 1-2 punch in the red zone.

 

[Samoo]

A tight end with those measurements should be part of your 1-2 punch in the red zone.

With half his catches being for TDs, this sounds doable. Very few people can out jump him.

 

[NEforceUConn]

He's a monster. Go Huskies!

 

[DoctorWho85]

Bro can be our Gronk. That guy is going to be really hard to take down.

 

[uconnfan68]

Let's use him (and Hansen) a lot more!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jetskies]

maybe the article is wrong and he does not actually have potential as a tackle at the next level. I struggle to see it any other way... there's too much money to make, for him not to make the move if scouts & the UConn staff see it.

or maybe i'm wrong and the transition from TE to OT is "easy" to do in the NFL? and scouts have the game film data they need from a TE to make the judgment call during pro day & senior bowls & subsequent offseason? If this is the case, that's news to me.

 

[huskymedic]

soooo... why isn't this guy a tackle yet? If he had as much promise at tackle as this article claims, it would seem like a no-brainer to make the change right now in college, to better position himself for NFL. his earning potential would probably be greater as a really good (or even just a "good") tackle, than as an OK Tight end.

UConn would have moved him over by now, with the exit of our 2 tackles...

maybe the article is wrong and he does not actually have potential as a tackle at the next level. I struggle to see it any other way... there's too much money to make, for him not to make the move if scouts & the UConn staff see it.

or maybe i'm wrong and the transition from TE to OT is "easy" to do in the NFL? and scouts have the game film data they need from a TE to make the judgment call during pro day & senior bowls & subsequent offseason? If this is the case, that's news to me.

All this angst over a throw away line in a quick snapshot of athletic freaks: “some scouts think he can project”…

… in Mora/Sammis/Pace we trust. They’ve done a great job figuring out the O-Line dynamics over the past few years.

 

[DawgEnjoyer]

This guy is impressive. I remember him doing a great job using his (massive) body to box out DBs on the couple back shoulder catches for TDs he had last year. Would be cool to see him make the NFL

 

[huskymedic]

Great read on Honig by Mike Anthony:



-> “Who do you put on Alex?” coach Jim Mora said. “He's 6-7, 270 and he runs fast. If you put a little DB on him, he's just going to muscle him. If you put a linebacker on him, he's going to outrun him. He's got those special traits. Tight ends are the guys you can find mismatches with, and that's what we try to do with our guys.” <-

-> “Tight end has become a premium position in the NFL,” Mora said. “You get a guy that's 6 foot 7, 270 pounds, can run like he can, can jump like he can, is athletic and smart and tough and team-oriented, I'm sure they'll start him as a tight end. Maybe he grows into being a lineman but offensive lineman in the NFL, they're 330 pounds. So he'd have to put on 60 pounds. That's a lot of pounds. So I think he's a tight end, but I'm not in the NFL anymore.” <-

Here’s the Storrs Central (free) interview Mike Anthony references if you missed it in the Camp thread:

 

[huskymedic]