DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk 2025 NFL Draft 3rd Round Pick: TE Harold Fannin

This was a pretty transparent likelihood IMO

I was close on the round. Just the wrong pick.

He had 137 yards receiving and TD in a 35-27 loss to Penn State. He is Bowling Green's only real weapon and Penn State could not stop him. Neither could Texas A&M in Bowling Green's 26-20 loss he had 145 yards receiving and a TD in that game. He can play football and has great hands.

This might be my favorite pick of the Browns draft. Love this pick. Huge upside. He just started playing football as ajunior in HS if I recall correctly.

STRENGTHS:
● Straight-line explosiveness; plays with athletic urgency into routes
● Uses speed to challenge defenses, vertically and horizontally
● Run after catch was a key ingredient to his college success
● Body quickness to manipulate space, which helps him get free or force missed tackles
● Physical stiff arm with run balance to carry tacklers for extra yards
● Secure hands catcher and comfortable playing through contact
● Catches just about everything in catch radius, because of his adjustment skills
● Nice range as a puller on sweeps/pitches or as a lead blocker on split zone or is
● Set almost every Bowling Green receiving record for a tight end
● Dominated against MAC competition; also played at a high level vs. Penn State (11 catches, 137 yards, one TD) and Texas A&M (eight catches,
145 yards, one TD) in 2024
● Moved all around in Bowling Green's scheme (third-highest rate for lining up wide among all FBS tight ends in 2024)

WEAKNESSES:
● Lacks desired size for inline work
● Duck-footed — often runs with feet often pointed outwards, which dulls route breaks
● Route movements appear stiff and rigid, with excess limb waste
● Physical defenders can too easily grind his momentum down at top of the route
● Doesn't have stout frame or body strength to consistently seal NFL ends
● Inconsistent breaking down as a blocker in space

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Bowling Green, Fannin played the "A" tight end position in head coach Scot Loeffler's pro-style spread offense,
splitting his snaps between inline/wing (38.3 percent), slot (31.7 percent) and out wide (26.2 percent). In an offense designed to weaponize its tight
end, Fannin transitioned from high school safety and had arguably the greatest tight end season in FBS history in 2024, setting single-season
records for catches (117) and receiving yards (1,555). He became the first consensus All-American in Bowling Green history (and just the school's
second in any sport).
With his strong hands and urgent athleticism, Fannin is at his best as a pass catcher and shows a unique feel for creating as a ball carrier. He is still
very young — and it shows, especially in his blocking and route running. Overall, Fannin is somewhat of an unconventional prospect. He is
awkwardly athletic with stiff, restricting movements, but he plays with straight-line explosiveness, outstanding tracking skills and
threatening run-after-catch ability. He fits best as a hybrid H or F tight end and offers three-down potential

Posted a "highlight" video before watching it
Turns out a bunch of his highlights are his Qb getting sacked????
Will look for something better

First time I am seeing him play
When they say he is duck-footed, holy cow

lol he is duck footed but he’s got fast duck feet

lmao That's exactly what I said. His duck feet may be his super power. Fellahs don't see duck feet every day, some won't know how to react.

this is my favorite pick - I'll be a big fan for him

As a former Falcon… it’ll be fun to root for this guy. Maybe the pro trainers can coax a little more speed out of him?

I didnt realize the thing about his duck feet - thats crazy

what are the advantages of running with "duck feet" for a pro athlete?

Answer
Advantages of Running with "Duck Feet" for Pro Athletes

There are no clear advantages to running with "duck feet" (out-toeing, where the feet point outward) for professional athletes. In fact, most evidence and expert advice suggest that this gait pattern is generally disadvantageous for running performance and injury prevention.

Key Points from the Evidence
Reduced Running Efficiency: Running with duck feet decreases the natural dorsiflexion and stiffness provided by the foot arch and ankle, which are crucial for a powerful push-off. This inefficiency can slow runners down and limit the amount of force they can generate during each stride2.

Increased Injury Risk: Out-toeing alters weight distribution during heel strike, placing extra stress on the ankles and knees, increasing the likelihood of pain and injuries such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, and even knee or hip issues6.

Fatigue and Energy Loss: The body must work harder to compensate for the misalignment, leading to wasted energy, faster fatigue, and decreased overall performance-comparable to running in flippers6.

Biomechanical Imbalance: Duck feet often reflect underlying weaknesses in the hip adductors and internal rotator muscles, leading to compensatory movements that disrupt the natural, efficient running gait2.

Pronation Problems: Out-toeing can cause overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot), destabilizing the ankle and flattening the arch, further increasing injury risk6.


Are There Any Situations Where Duck Feet Might Help?

Natural Variation: Some individuals have a natural out-toeing gait due to their bone structure or hip alignment. For these runners, forcing a straight-footed stride could increase injury risk. In such cases, running with mild duck feet may be the safest and most sustainable option for their unique anatomy8.

Elite Examples: There are rare cases where elite runners with out-toeing gaits have succeeded at the highest levels, but these are exceptions rather than the rule, and their success is likely due to other compensatory strengths or unique biomechanics8.

Wonder if the Browns Analytics Department researched this.

My own impression is -- it doesn't matter. Some people run that way, his gait is just more pronounced. I mean, he's ran this way his whole life and look where he is, right? Always open and a YAC machine.

Something I noticed: the only time this is really pronounced is in the open field and ready to make a move or accelerating to full speed after a move. He's much more "duck-footed" when he is coming into and out of breaks. Stride is much more concise and the toes much more in line off the line and through his pattern.

Watching that tape led to noticing that he has great head and hand fakes and they flow in near-perfect synchronicity with his feet.