Tag: Cade Stover Ohio State

Texans rookie TE Cade Stover garners praise from C.J. Stroud following strong debut

Cade Stover made his presence felt during Sunday’s win over the Colts and C.J. Stroud wanted everyone to know about it.

Joe Mixon credited his offensive line for paving the way to a stellar Houston Texans’ debut against the Indianapolis Colts.

Traded from Cincinnati, Mixon lived up to the billing as a bell-cow back by rushing for 159 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. The offensive line looked at its peak by creating lanes for the Pro Bowl runner to set the tone at Lucas Oil Stadium.

But Mixon, who currently leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 178 heading into Week 2, gave one more thank you in the locker room before boarding a flight back home.

“Special shout-out to (Cade) Stover,” Mixon told reporters. “He made critical blocks. … I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a fullback in front of me. It’s a hell of a feeling, man.”

Stover, the Texans’ fourth-round pick of Ohio State, will carve out playing time in 2024, but where remains the mystery. With Dalton Schultz missing practice, the former Buckeye could see reps at his natural tight end position.

He also could remain Houston’s lead fullback while learning on the fly. Learning positions is nothing new for Stover since he committed to Ohio State as a linebacker before swapping sides in 2020.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Stover earned the trust to learn a new position. After roster cutdowns, Houston was left without a full-time fullback, so Stover and undrafted rookie British Brooks began to take reps in practice.

 On Sunday, Stover saw the most action with 15 reps. He stepped up late in the fourth quarter by setting up a block to help Mixon pick up a first down. He also helped keep his former college quarterback C.J. Stroud upright on two pass attempts.

“Cade is somebody who’s very selfless,” Stroud said Wednesday. “He’s been like that since I met him. And he’s willing to do everything to win and I think he played great in his first game.”

Stroud, who trusted Stover to be his top red zone target in 2022 in Columbus, knows the transition period is the toughest, but nothing a player who’s been through this before can’t tackle head-on.

“It’s not easy going out there, not knowing – not getting a whole bunch of reps doing a new position but he attacked it and he really just wants to win and I love that dude,” said Stroud.

Stover will have a chance to improve his rep count

Dalton Schultz excited to work with rookie TE Cade Stover

Cade Stover is ready to learn everything in Bobby Slowik’s offense, and Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz might be the right teacher.

Cade Stover caught the attention of Houston Texans fans everywhere when the AFC South franchise traded up in the 2024 NFL draft to select him in the fourth round.

Through the first few days of voluntary OTAs, the former Buckeyes has already caught the eyes of several new teammates, including the first-string tight end and potential secondary teacher.

Dalton Schultz told reporters last week he’s been impressed with Stover’s eagerness to learn the ins and outs of Bobby Slowik’s offense during the early stages of camp.

“I like him — he is a hardworking kid,” Schultz said of Stover.

Drafted 123rd overall, Stover already has an advantage in the relationship aspect with quarterback C.J. Stroud. The two lit up the Big Ten in Stroud’s final season at Ohio State en route to a College Football Playoff bid.

Stroud, a two-time Heisman finalist, relied on Stover as the No. 2 weapon in the passing game, connecting with him on 36 passes for 406 yards and five TDs. Last season with the Buckeyes, Stover proved he could work without an elite quarterback, hauling in 41 passes for 576 yards and five scores while being named a John Mackey Award finalist.

“This guy is as tough and hard-nosed a player that they had in the program,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said following the draft. “He’s only played tight end for two years, so he’s certainly not a finished product, but he has the mindset and the work ethic to improve.”

Schultz, who signed a three-year, $36 million extension this offseason, knows the transition as a Day 3 pick at tight end comes with patience. As a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Schultz finally came into his own in Year 3 with 63 catches for 615 yards.

Stover, the hopeful long-term No. 2 tight end, has been a ball of clay in practice, taking in loads of information from coach Jake Moreland and Schultz. No one expects Stover to transform into an All-Pro overnight, but Schultz has seen a promising player putting in the work.

“I am excited to have a young guy that is super excited to learn football,” Schultz said. “He told me, ‘Listen, I am early playing this position. I am literally going to learn from you.’ “

Texans GM Nick Caserio on Ohio State TE Cade Stover: ‘This is an elite guy’

The Houston Texans believe they’re getting an ‘elite player’ in Ohio State tight end Cade Stover for the offense in 2024.

C.J. Stroud isn’t the only member of the Houston Texans excited for the arrival of Ohio State tight end Cade Stover at NRG Stadium. 

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans can’t wait to see the newest offensive weapon get to work. General manager Nick Caserio believes the AFC South champions are getting a difference-maker from the jump.

 “This is probably one of our favorite football players in the entire draft, regardless of position, because of his mentality, because of his mindset—and he’s still developing as a player,” Caserio said Saturday following the 2024 NFL daft. “I mean, two years ago he was playing defensive end in the Rose Bowl against Utah. Now, he’s played tight end for two years, and here he is getting picked in the bottom of the fourth round.

“He’s [as] blue-collar as they come. From a make-up, traits, toughness, mentality, this is an elite guy.”

Drafted 123rd overall in the fourth round, Stover heads to Houston as the long-term tight end option opposite Dalton Schultz. That’s a positive thing since he’s still developing as a prospect and far from ready to be the go-to weapon. 

One of the top defensive prospects coming out of Lexington, Ohio, Stover switched positions during his junior season. That year, he served as the security blanket for Stroud, hauling in 36 catches for 406 yards and five touchdowns.

Ohio State coasted to a College Football Playoff berth while Stroud eclipsed another invite to the Heisman Trophy presentation. 

“It’s just such an honor to play with C.J. again,” Stover said. “They’ve got something really special going down there in Houston, so I’m just really, really excited to be a part of it and – a lot of emotion right now, it’s hard to put into words.”

Stover showed signs of growth without Stroud in 2023 as the Buckeyes’ No. 2 target behind first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. With Kyle McCord, he caught 41 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns, earning a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He also was named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given out to the nation’s top tight end. 

“This guy is as tough and hard-nosed a player that they had in the program,” Caserio added. “He’s only played tight end for two years, so he’s certainly not a finished product, but he has the mindset and the work ethic to improve. I mean, how he was raised, this guy is everything you want in a football player and then more.”

Caserio mentioned Stover’s versatility as an asset to the organization, though they plan to leave him at tight end. The 6-foot-4 pass-catcher might not be hauling in balls consistently until 2025 with fourth-year tight end Brevin Jordan ahead of him on the depth chart. 

 That’s fine entering rookie minicamp. Jordan, who came up clutch in Houston’s wild-card round victory over the Cleveland Browns in January, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. So is tight end/h-back Andrew Beck, another position Stover could play in the pros. 

Caserio believes Houston is getting a blue-collar, no-nonsense offensive weapon. Stover doesn’t care what you call him on the field, just so long as his number is called. 

“I’m gonna do whatever you ask me to do at 100 percent, everything I’ve got, every single time,” Stover said. “I’m gonna be the glue in the locker room, I’m gonna be the dude people can come to when things go wrong and I’m just excited to help this team any way I can.”

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: TE Cade Stover, Ohio State

Stover is a high-upside choice for teams employing a West Coast offense.

Ohio State tight end Cade Stover heads into the 2024 NFL Draft as one of the more fascinating players at this rather thin position after converting from the other side of the ball. He was a high school basketball star, too, and some of those traits can be found in how he attacks the rock in contested coverage.

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 247 pounds
40 time: 4.65 seconds

A former linebacker who was moved to defensive end before a conversion to tight end as a Buckeye, Stover is still learning the nuances, so his best football may be yet to come. He made the full-time switch to his current position in 2022 and blossomed, going for five scores over 36 grabs. As a redshirt senior, Stover set personal bests in receptions and yardage while appearing in a dozen contests.

Table: TE Cade Stover, Ohio State (2019-23)

Year School Class Gm Rec Yds Avg TD
*2019 Ohio State Fr 1 0 0 — 0
*2020 Ohio State rFr 2 0 0 — 0
*2021 Ohio State rSo 13 5 76 15.2 0
*2022 Ohio State rJr 13 36 406 11.3 5
*2023 Ohio State rSr 12 41 576 14.0 5
Total 41 82 1,058 12.9 10

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Natural hands catcher who is reliable during key situations and in contested situations
  • Can exploit linebackers in man coverage on wheel routes and has a good feel for exploiting soft spots against zone
  • Extremely versatile with room to grow — played tight end full time for only a couple of years
  • Makes late adjustments to uncover and create just enough separation to matter
  • Three-level receiving outlet — can catch TE screens and rumble, work the intermediate field, or down the seam
  • More of a slot option over being an inline blocker but has the potential to develop into a more well-rounded option
  • Exceptional work ethic and dedication — blue-collar farmer who understands what it takes to get a job done
  • Physicality to go through defenders and elusive enough to get around them
  • Has upside to grow into a three-down TE
  • Does a fine job at selling blocks prior to releasing into space

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Cons

  • Has a long way to go before becoming a complete tight end, especially as a blocker
  • While we’ve seen him operate across all three levels of the route tree, his route diversity lacks experience
  • Career longevity? Turns 24 in June and may need several seasons to fully mature as a player
  • Undeniably benefited from the attention paid to slowing Marvin Harrison Jr. — not his fault, but it may not give a true representation of his ultimate potential if he enters a less potent passing attack

Fantasy football outlook

Ideally chosen by a team using a West Coast offense, Stover’s landing spot will drive his short-term fantasy worth more than most of the top tight ends in this class. He has legit TE1 potential by Year 3 in the right setting. The problem is he may not be a long-term solution for dynasty leaguers given his age and continued onfield maturation requirements.

In 2024, it’s unlikely gamers find a great deal of utility from him, regardless of where Stover calls home. We’ll revisit this one after his drafting, because he has enough raw talent as a receiver that there’s a slim chance someone invests the kind of selection to ensure Stover will have a Day 1 starting gig.