Cade “Farm Gronk” Stover Tight End Ohio State

Enough with the Gronk nicknames…

Some of the nicknames floating around out there when it comes to Ohio State’s Cade Stover are, “Gronk, “Baby Gronk,” and now “Farm Gronk.”

Let it go.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski was one of the best ever, but he is retired now.

Let me tell you, Stover isn’t Gronkowski. Their only similarities are the brace on Stover’s left arm right now, and the position of tight end.

Seeing Stover evolve

At Lexington High School in Ohio (five years ago), Stover was on the field as a quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, defensive end, safety, and as a linebacker. There are different films all over YouTube you can see exactly what he is. In one of his high school games, #8 dominated both sides of the ball in a six touchdown performance (click to watch).

This not only shows his versatility and toughness, but it also demonstrates his intelligence.

Tight ends never get enough love for what they do. They have to block like tackles, catch like wide receivers, and be clutch like quarterbacks. By the time they hit the NFL, they get more notoriety, and usually less compensation than other positions.

Standing just short of 6’5” and weighing in at 255 pounds, Ohio State plucked him right off of a John Deere combine on his father’s farm in the same state he plays in. He has definitely been bulking up the last few years since he left the farm. Stover plans on returning there one day. However, that won’t be any day soon, if the NFL has anything to say about it.

Stover a first-round pick?

I hadn’t heard of him until the other day, but after watching the film, I know who he is.

I was pulling random names off of a list to scout, and write about, for your entertainment. Against Penn State, he sprung TreVeyon Henderson’s 41-yard go ahead touchdown on his own, with two blocks. Then he sealed the game with his very own 24-yard touchdown, breaking three tackles on his way to the end zone.

There is a mock on CBS Sports putting him late in first round.

No question, this guy knows the entire field with all the positions he’s played as an Iron Man.

Is he worth going in the first round?

I think so, because he is always open.

Will he actually end up going in the first round?

That’s a negative, because it takes a lot for a tight end to go that high in the draft.

Where will he end up in the NFL?

The biggest problem is quarterback C.J. Stroud using him for a third or fourth read and I don’t trust Stroud at all. By the time he sees him, the defense is usually closing in.

I believe a team like the Carolina Panthers will take him in the second or third round. The Panthers pretty much have the 49ers entire draft next year. Ever since Greg Olsen retired they haven’t had anyone for a safety valve, but running back Christian McCaffrey, and now he’s gone.

The Panthers are in full rebuilding mode. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker are not it. If they hire Sean Payton, all hell is going to break loose in the NFC South.

Stover would help implement a new culture there.

The film that I watched (#8 Stover):
Penn State vs Ohio State 2022

Notre Dame vs Ohio State 2022

Cade Stover switch from LB to TE 2021

The author, William Yanish, has been a football fan since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He played football until his body wouldn’t let him any longer at the tender young age of 17. He is an aspiring sports writer and author, who covers the NFL Draft for firstroundmock.com. Yanish attended Colorado Mesa University on the western slope of Colorado.