The Raven’s rookie tight end is back on the active roster as the 53rd man, which clears a path for him to make a fresh debut in the coming weeks. He is the 4th round pick-up who had just undergone hernia surgery for a lingering college injury and decided to finally rid the injury for good.
This six-foot-six and 250-pound Iowa native has been in practice these last few weeks and is quite confident. He is one of the former Iowa State cyclones currently active in the NFL.
John Harbaugh, the head coach, had good things to report: “He’s a young player, and he missed a lot of time during training camp, so he’s still developing, but he’s out there [and] he looks good. He’s so talented, he’s so big, and he has great hands. He wants to do well; he’s very conscientious. He had three good weeks of practice, so I anticipate him being brought up this week.”
Charlie Kolar Cleared for Practice
Kolar’s hernia surgery was in early August, and he has since been cleared for practice. He soon began his 21-day window, determining whether he would join the 53-man roster or take the injury bench for the rest of the season.
He forms one of the two tight ends drafted by the Ravens; Isaiah Likely is the other tight end. Prior to his injury, Kolar made quite an impression in the summer and spring workouts.
Kolar had quite a productive year with the Cyclones, where he managed 168 catches, 2,181 yards, and 23 touchdowns during his four-year career. He will be a formidable weapon for Baltimore as he joins the team’s tight-end group with Joh Oliver, Nick Boyle, and all-pro Mark Andrews.
TE Charlie Kolar has been cleared to return to practice.https://t.co/bKVCTDoFYs
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 18, 2022
Kolar selection by the Ravens
Former Iowa State tight end Charlie Kolar was the most celebrated payer at his position in his school’s history. He was selected as the 4th round and overall 128th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
His career with the Cyclones was marked with awards; he was a two-time Mackey Award finalist and won the All-American thrice. In 2021, he received William V. Campbell Trophy and was named the Football Player of the Year.
The Iowa State head coach had marvelous things to share about the tight end player: “Charlie is one of the best competitors I have ever been around.
He takes great pride in everything that he does, which has set him up to be successful both on the field and off. Charlie has been an incredible representative of Iowa State for the last five years, and we are thrilled for him and the Kolar family.”
The Ravens will soon be able to call on the services of Charlie Kolar, who will be looking to make his mark on this team.
What. A. Catch. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/NjYEnXe7VM
— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) November 15, 2022
Charlie Kolar’s Background
Kolar ended his career at his high school in Oklahoma with 139 receptions in 2440 yards and 31 touchdowns.
While in high school, he was named to the Scout Midlands first team, awarded a 3-star grade by ESPN, and was one of the state’s top players. He was recalled for many scholarships but landed at Iowa State.
Charlie spent 2017 redshirting and playing little; in 2018, he earned his starting role, finishing third in his team with 51 receptions in 697 yards and seven touchdowns. This was the beginning of his decorated history with the school.
The year 2020 was no different, as he logged 44 catches over 591 yards and seven touchdowns in eleven games. During this time, he received even more recognition and was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award, although he lost to Kyle Pitts.
In 2021, Charlie’s best year, he recorded 63 receptions in 764 yards and six touchdowns. His ratings were the best, and Phil Steele handed him a spot on the All-America Third Team. He also made the first team in CoSIDA, becoming the school’s first three-time Academic All-American.
All-Americans on the field…..
All-Americans in the classroom….Congrats to @charliekolar_ & @brockpurdy13 for earning @CoSIDAAcadAA honors.
🌪️🚨🌪️ pic.twitter.com/boMQC8GYZH
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) July 12, 2021
Charlie Kolar’s Overall Strengths and Weaknesses
Kolar is a respectable tight-end prospect with modest athletic potential. He has exceptional hands and a wide catch radius, and he may rapidly establish himself as the quarterback’s closest ally on third down.
However, he is a weak blocker due to his lack of strength and excessive height and leanness. Along with lacking an explosion, he also has extremely ordinary top-end speed.
It’s difficult to imagine Kolar going higher than the fifth round in the 2022 NFL Draft since we believe he has a future as a pass-catching possession-type receiver at the next level but may struggle to earn a regular starting job at the tight end owing to his weak blocking ability. However, scouting opinions are not comprehensive and do not consider players’ ethics and motivations.
“His soft hands are as reliable as they come in college football. He comfortably plucks the football out of the air with full extension. In traffic, Kolar consistently reels in his targets. His strong hands make him a quarterback’s best friend and safety blanket. Since 2019, he has a drop rate of 3%.”
Charlie Kolar is rare because he combines intelligence, reliability in pass catching, size, and the ability to make plays all over the field, but notably in the red zone.
Most 15+ yard receptions by P5 TEs since 2020:
1️⃣ Greg Dulcich (UCLA) – 36
1️⃣ Charlie Kolar (Iowa State) – 36 pic.twitter.com/y2vMVk54Rk— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 2, 2022
Credits on Featured Image: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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