Blair Angulo on Gunnar Helm --
SCOUTING REPORT: Good physical upside with growth potential. Long arms, narrow build through the hips with high waist. Possession tight end with decent body control and high-point ability. Impressive route runner with feel for soft spots in coverage. Valuable pass-catching asset near the goal line. Above average hands and shows tendency to catch the ball away from his body. Can plant his foot and change directions to keep linebackers honest. Physical enough to lower his shoulder and pick up extra yards. Could continue to improve separation from defenders, particularly over the middle. Must get stronger to be a reliable run blocker who can seal the edge. Potential multi-year starter at the Power Five level with chance to garner buzz as All-Conference type performer later in college career. He is the nation’s No. 27 rated tight end and No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Colorado for the 2021 class, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings.
247SPORTS’ TAKE: Although Helm didn’t get to meet with any coaches or players while on his swing through Austin last Monday, the Longhorns definitely benefited from getting the last stop even though they were relatively new to the recruiting battle, having just joined the chase with an offer on June 9. It speaks to the recruiting muscle that Tom Herman and Co. have shown throughout this off-season to ascend to No. 1 among Big 12 programs in the Composite team rankings for the 2021 class strictly via virtual means. It might not be a big-splash victory that will garner national headlines, but Texas did beat out a number of schools that have a recent history of producing tight ends. Wisconsin and Iowa were up there, and UCLA had been in the chase for a long time, but the Longhorns were able to sell a bright future at the position. Helm has plenty of room for growth and improvement, but if he's able to meet some of that upside, as evidenced by his eight touchdowns on only 25 receptions last fall, then Texas is getting a pass catcher that should be able to push for playing time early in his college career.