Michigan State Football: What does 3-star TE Jake Renda bring to the table?

Jake Renda became the latest Michigan State football commitment over the weekend. What does the quarterback-turned-tight end bring to the table?

Changing positions from high school to college isn’t easy and the move three-star Jake Renda is making might be the toughest.

Michigan State’s newest 2021 commit started his career as a quarterback in New Jersey for Notre Dame High and is making the transition to IMG Academy for his senior campaign. He’s also making the move to tight end which is exactly where Mel Tucker and the Spartan staff want to see him.

The Spartans recruited Renda to be the Spartans’ second tight end in the class and this is big because offensive coordinator Jay Johnson values that position arguably above all else.

https://twitter.com/Jake_Renda/status/1279550886407294977?s=20

Moreover, Renda seems like a raw talent at the position with the perfect frame at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds.

What Renda brings to the table as a tight end

As a junior in 2019, Renda had a heck of a season at quarterback, throwing 20 touchdown passes to zero interceptions. That’s the kind of clean play coaches love from the position, but college scouts saw something in him to move him to tight end.

After watching his highlights, it makes sense that he’s making the move because he runs well, has a strong frame and doesn’t go down easily. He has a strong, accurate arm, but he’s also a bully with the ball in his hands.

Adding Renda to the class is big because he is the second 6-foot-5 tight end who runs well with the ball and is quick for the position.

The one thing I’d like to see more of his ability to handle his blocks. Obviously quarterback highlights don’t show that nor his pass-catching ability, but he has plenty of knowledge of the offense by playing that position. He’ll be ahead in knowledge but he has some major work to do at IMG to prove he’s worthy of an early impact in East Lansing.

Raw doesn’t even begin to describe his game at tight end.

Renda is the No. 55 tight end in the class and he could rise up the ranks tremendously this season.