Eric Winston

There are some talented tight ends around the nation this year -- such as Marcedes Lewis of Long Beach-Poly, Calif., who's committed to UCLA, and R.J. Coleman of Clarksburg, W.Va., who's committed to Ohio State -- but none is better than the 6-7, 260-pound Eric Winston.

As a junior Winston helped lead Midland (Texas) Lee High School to the state championship, not only by averaging 23 yards per catch, but also as the lead blocker for All-State RB Cedric Benson (Winston totaled an impressive 50 pancake blocks). On film this large and very athletic tight end runs precise routes and shows soft hands and unusual speed for a 260-pounder. Playing on a run-oriented team, he caught only 14 passes, but those receptions went for 325 yards and two scores. In the game against El Paso-Franklin, he caught a screen pass and took it for 70 yards and a score, outrunning the entire Franklin defense. Not many 260-pounders can claim that kind of quickness, body control and burst.

In person and on film, Winston reminds me of former prep All-American David LaFleur. In fact, at 6-7, 260, he's the same size as LaFleur, who's now the starting tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Last season Winston also played some nose guard, recording two sacks and 20 tackles. This season, because of graduation losses, he is expected to play inside linebacker.

Not only is he the prototypical tight end with his size, flexibility, and speed, he's also the perfect size to play power forward in basketball, where he averages 19 points and 15 rebounds a game. He earned All-District honors in basketball and First Team All-State honors at tight end.

Midland is not an easy town to get to, as it's situated 300 miles east of El Paso and 300 miles west of San Antonio, so the college scouts have to have a reason for going there. This year every recruiter who has ventured to Robert E. Lee High School has come away in awe of this prep phenom, and all have offered him a scholarship. Not only is he the nation's premier tight end, but he's also a good student. Although carrying the label of the nation's top tight end will make Eric a marked man for his senior season, Lee's coaches are expecting great production out of the tight end position and Winston believes he will deliver in a big way.

He has narrowed his college list down to five, with Texas A&M and Notre Dame right at the top, followed closely by Michigan, Miami (Fla.) and Texas. He will go through the recruiting process and plans on visiting all five schools after the season. Regardless of where he eventually winds up, chances are good he will make a major impact as a true freshman.

Tom Lemming is editor of Prep Football Report. For information on how to subscribe to Prep Football Report's three yearly magazines and five newsletters ($60 for the magazines and $90 for both magazines and newsletters), fax your name, address and fax number to 847-842-1313 or write to P.O. Box 59113, Schaumburg, Ill. 60159. For year-round recruiting updates, call Tom Lemming's Prep Football Hotline at 900-860-9888. Calls are $1.79 per minute, and callers must be 18 years old or have parents' permission.