5 things to like about Gators TE commit Tae’shaun Gelsey

Another commitment is in for the Florida Gators, with Jacksonville (Fla.) Riverside tight end Tae’shaun Gelsey becoming the latest addition on Saturday.

In addition to Florida, the emerging pass catcher has hauled in offers from Auburn, Kentucky, West Virginia, UCF, Maryland, Indiana, Boston College and Cincinnati among others.

For our premium subscribers at Gators Online, below are five takeaways on Gelsey’s skill set.

High-pointing the ball

When dissecting Gelsey’s film, the first thing that grasped my attention was his ability to get vertical. He does a nice job of timing his jump but also extending out to beat his opponent to the ball. At 6-foot-4, he is already taller than most defensive backs he faces, so exploding and making using of his length adds even more difficulty for the defense. You need big-bodied pass catchers who can win those 50/50 balls, and Tae’shaun Gelsey does exactly that.

Red-zone ability

That leads into the next area of strength, as Gelsey is a headache to contain in the red zone. His size and ability to attack the ball at its highest point provides him with plenty of opportunities to record six points, and more often than not, he is on the winning side of those battles. There are plenty of offenses that get down the field in a hurry but stall once the field shrinks. Having Gelsey provides another element and improves a team’s chances of logging six points rather than three.

Hands and concentration

Gelsey makes it look easy at times, but that’s a testament to the work he puts in. He does a nice job of watching the ball all the way in and then finishing through contact. His concentration and body control after contact make him a threat whenever the ball comes his way. This is a reliable target who can adjust to poorly-thrown passes and make the difficult play when needed. Whenever a play broke down last season, there were times Riverside’s quarterback just threw it in Gelsey’s direction and let him make a play. And sometimes, that lengthy catch was made over multiple defenders.

More than just a deep threat

Don’t get it twisted though: Just because Gelsey is effective downfield doesn’t mean he’s not a threat after the catch. He needs to become more crisp in his route running but gets enough separation to create openings. Then once the ball is tucked away, Gelsey is more than capable of tacking on six points. He wastes little time getting north and south and does a good job of sticking his foot in the ground to redirect when needed. He’s not the fastest wide receiver, but it’s a different conversation with him at tight end. Gelsey is an intriguing prospect. Gelsey can pick up momentum in a hurry.

Long-term potential

Remember, this is a high school wide receiver who will transition to tight end. Gelsey hauled in 48 passes for 859 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago, so that production and downfield ability could be an issue for linebackers and safeties. He might lose some athleticism as weight gets added, but I don’t think it will be much of an issue. Tae’shaun Gelsey has the potential to be a mismatch problem and the Florida Gators plan to utilize him in different ways to create favorable matchups.

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