Ari Werts, TE, ETSU – 2019 NFL Draft

Prior to ETSU

Transferred to ETSU from Georgia State … 

AT GEORGIA STATE: Three-year letterwinner at tight end with 48 career receptions for 688 yards and three touchdowns … Ranks ninth in GSU history in career receiving yards … After a gray shirt year, he enrolled in January 2015 and earned playing time as a true freshman … Dean’s List, Spring 2017and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Spring 2016.

2017: Fourth on the team with 22 receptions for 275 yards … Made five starts at tight end … Had his best game as a Panther in win at Coastal Carolina with four catches for 92 yards. His 52-yard reception in fourth quarter set up game-clinching TD … Career-long 59-yard reception in the season opener vs. Tennessee State … Had four catches for 27 yards in win at Texas State … 2017 Preseason Watch List for the John Mackey Award. 2017: Fourth on the team with 22 receptions for 275 yards … Made five starts at tight end … Had his best game as a Panther in win at Coastal Carolina with four catches for 92 yards. His 52-yard reception in fourth quarter set up game-clinching TD … Career-long 59-yard reception in the season opener vs. Tennessee State … Had four catches for 27 yards in win at Texas State … 2017 Preseason Watch List for the John Mackey Award.

2016: Fifth on the team with 21 receptions for 329 yards. Tied for second with three touchdowns … Caught his first career touchdown at Air Force on a 22-yard receptions from Conner Manning … Had three catches for 77 yards including a 41-yard reception vs. Texas State … Career-high four receptions for 60 yards vs. Troy with a 14-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter … Career-long 46-yard reception vs. ULM … Hauled in a 26-yard pass just shy of the goal line to set up a touchdown vs. Georgia Southern … Finished the season with four catches for 76 yards vs. Idaho, highlighted by an 11-yard touchdown.

2015: Played on special teams all season and began to see more action at tight end in the second half of the season … Averaged 16.8 yards on five receptions (84 yards) … Saw his first playing time on offense vs. App State and had two catches for 21 yards … Had three receptions for 63 yards vs. San Jose State in the AutoNation Cure Bowl. Caught passes of 20 and 29 yards on a first-quarter touchdown drive … Credited with three special teams tackles.

HIGH SCHOOL: All-area (DeKalb County) tight end by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Coached by Ron Gartrell at Stephenson High School … Helped Stephenson reach the state playoffs.

PERSONAL: Full name is Ari Kaleb Werts … Born Aug. 7, 1996 … Son of Larry and Kathy Werts … Majoring in interdisciplinary studies.

High School

Think small-school Evan Ingram type prospect, that is who Werts identifies with the most at the next level. He has spent his entire football career pleasing coaches at either tight end or receiver.

In high school Werts played quarterback from his freshman to junior season before making the two-way role as both tight end and receiver. He was recruited by the likes of Iowa State, Indiana and Boise State, but wanted to stay close to home and played his first collegiate ball at Georgia State.

It also marked the first time he was going to focus solely on playing the tight end position. He spent three years at Georgia State prior to his arrival ETSU and once again playing receiver.

Werts participated in the Gridiron Showcase and there he once again concentrated on the tight end position. He played his senior season at 220 pounds and now is up to 237 and performed at Falcons Day a collection of local draft prospects in Atlanta.

The Falcons were impressed with his catching ability and route running according to Werts.

“Even the head coach showed loved,” said Werts. “He said he liked how I caught the ball and route running.”

Teams possibly will view Werts in an H-back role in their offensive system. His tweener size between tight end and receiver make him hard to peg. Fearless and willing to block his best assets remain being a vertical threat in the passing game.