Five of Arizona’s Best Tight Ends for the Class of 2023
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Arizona is deep in high school football talent, especially at the tight end position. Here’s a listing of some of the most talented for the class of 2023: Matthew Klopfenstein Matthew Klopfenstein 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Horizon |…
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Continue ReadingArizona is deep in high school football talent, especially at the tight end position. Here’s a listing of some of the most talented for the class of 2023:
Matthew Klopfenstein Matthew Klopfenstein 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Horizon | 2023 State AZ : is a 6-5, 235-pound tight end and defensive end at Horizon High school. As a freshman, playing with the junior varsity, Matt was selected as Player of the Game on three separate occasions – against Sunrise Mountain, Cactus Shadows, and Higby. As a sophomore, it was necessary for him to be quarantined for two weeks but he still led the team in receptions (17) and yards (180) in five games.
Matt uses his size, speed, and hands to make things happen. He was named Second-Team All 5A Region as a sophomore. He is already a high-level college recruit with offers from both the University of Arizona and Michigan State. A number of other colleges – California, Washington, Michigan, and Arizona State – have not offered as of yet but have shown genuine interest.
For the past two months, Matt and his 7-on-7 team, the Arizona Dolphins, have played in a number of tournaments. Among them The RedZone Elite 7 -on- 7, the EndZone 7-on-7 Texas Regional, and the Pylon 7-on-7 Bullhead City tournament. The Dolphins finished 7-0-1 in the Pylon event. Matt displayed disciplined route running and outstanding hands throughout the events.
Jackson Boyd Bowers is a 6-5, 230-pound tight end at Mountain View High School in Mesa. As a sophomore, in 2020, he caught 25 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns. He was named to the Second Team All-Conference squad. Jackson runs outstanding routes, has great hands, and makes great catch after great catch in traffic. He uses his large frame to shield off defenders.
Jackson also plays on the Mountain View basketball team and over the last month has played in a number of 7-on-7 tournaments. He uses a combination of size and skill to get an advantage on an opponent. Arizona State was his first scholarship offer and since then he has received offers from BYU, California, Utah, UNLV, and the University of Washington.
With two years of eligibility left, Jackson and the Mountain View Toros should be primed for a state title.
Connor Lopez Connor Lopez 6'4" | 205 lbs | TE Poston Butte | 2023 State AZ is a 6-4, 205-pound tight end for the Poston Butte High School Broncos. Primarily a tight end, he also plays quarterback and safety on defense. Last fall, as a sophomore, Connor caught 13 passes for 286 yards for an average gain of 22.0 yards per catch. The Broncos finished the season 6-2 but 4-0 in their division and were the 2020 Black Canyon Region Champions under Head Coach Dain Thompson.
Connor also plays on the Poston Butte basketball team. He was selected for the 4A All-Conference Second Team as a tight end. For the Pinal Central All-County football team, he was selected on the first-team offense. In addition, he was a finalist for the position of tight end of the year by the 4A ArizonaVarsity.com committee. Connor has sure hands, is an outstanding receiver and blocker, and sees the entire field very well. He should have two strong years as a junior and senior at Poston Butte.
Will Henry Way is a 6-4, 235 tight end and defensive end for the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions. His dad is a high school coach and Will is considered a natural leader. He started as a freshman for the Lions and has both good feet and good hands. He took taekwondo for five years which helped his overall agility and balance. Will is also an outstanding basketball player.
Playing for football Head Coach Kent Middleton, Will had six catches last fall for 92 yards and an average of 15.3 years per reception. He also had 39 total tackles, five of which were for a loss. He was timed at 5.2 seconds in the forty-yard dash, can bench press 235 pounds, and can squat 375. His vertical jump is 28.0 and he carries a 3.6 GPA. Will was All-Region Honorable Mention last fall as a tight end.
With outstanding athleticism, he has the ability to play at the next level in either football or basketball.
Malachi Stephenson Malachi Stephenson 6'1" | 200 lbs | TE Bradshaw Mountain | 2023 AZ is a 6-1, 200-pound tight end for Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley. He also plays Inside Linebacker. In last fall’s seven-game schedule, Malachi caught 21 passes for 382 yards, for an average of 18.2 yards per reception. He also had 29 tackles as a linebacker. The Bradshaw Mountain Bears were eliminated from playoff competition last October when they lost 38-14 to Coconino High School. Malachi caught a touchdown pass in the game but the team finished with an overall 3-4 record.
Malachi plays for Head Coach Bob Young in the 4A Region. He was honored after the season by the AllArizonaVarsity as a member of the second team as a tight end. He was also a finalist for the 4A ArizonaVarsity.com tight end of the year candidates. Malachi has good speed and sure hands and a high football IQ. He should be primed for outstanding seasons in 2021 and 2022.