Bethune-Cookman tight end Kemari Averett has decided to enter the 2023 NFL Draft after two seasons of terrorizing SWAC defenses.
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In terms of scouting the position in contemporary offenses, the tight end position has changed from its earlier incarnations. Players like Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, and most recently Kyle Pitts have shown that tight ends are no longer required to spend the majority of their time in the trenches.
Although Kyle Pitts, Noah Fant, and Travis Kelce are not present in the 2022 tight end draft class, there are plenty of players in the depth who can fill very specific needs, particularly in the receiving area. Trey McBride, Isaiah Likely, Jalen Wydermyer, and other names predominate in this year’s class conversation.
Kemari Averett announces his NFL arrival on social media
The native of Atlanta, Georgia, shared the news on social media on Thursday.
Left with no regrets!! I gave the program 110%!! Finnish with 90recs, 1321 yards, 17TD’s over 10+ pancakes!! could it have been more I honestly would tell you yes! Senior season sh*t ain’t go as planned but god has a plan!! @NFL 👀 I’m coming 💯 pic.twitter.com/KqRdMfSgBS
— Kemari Averett (@solid_mari) December 28, 2022
Kemari Averett hadn’t played in a football game in nearly three years. However, when he finally took the field, it felt as if he had never taken a break from the action.
Averett satisfies all evaluation criteria for the prototypical tight end prospect in the contemporary NFL. He is described as being 6’6″ and 260 pounds, with soft hands, the capacity to work seams, and a talent for outwitting opponents in contested catch situations.
After taking the last two seasons off from football, Kemari Averett, who began his career at Louisville, is now playing for Bethune-Cookman and has been lighting up the stat sheet. During the 2021 season, he is the team’s leader in receptions (37), yards (686) and touchdowns (6), outpacing the next-closest player in each category by a factor of two.
#BethuneCookman TE Kemari Averett had a monster game on Saturday against Alabama State, catching nine passes for 140 yards and a touchdown catch in the redzone.
Listed at 6’6″, 260 pounds, he can make catches above the rim, hard to tackle, has been their best weapon this season. pic.twitter.com/86e79Gdrde
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) September 27, 2021
While playing for the Wildcats, Averett accumulated 91 receptions for 1,333 yards and 17 touchdowns. Averett played for Louisville for two seasons prior to his time with B-CU.
NFL teams will undoubtedly be drawn to a player of his size, talent, and production. However, an off-the-field history that includes being expelled from the University of Louisville is likely on the league’s radar and will undoubtedly affect his draft position.
As per the Courier-Journal, the University was able to find enough evidence which proved that Averett had r*aped a woman in his apartment. “Based on a preponderance of information standard, there was sufficient information to indicate that you are responsible for this charge of non-consensual sexual intercourse on August 14, 2018,” the University had told the footballer though a detailed letter.