Nate Boerkircher, a tight end from Texas A&M, was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round. He transitioned from a zero-star recruit to a promising NFL prospect known for his blocking skills and academic achievements.
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Not many second round draft selections begin their college career as a zero-star recruit. But thatâs exactly what Nate Boerkircher was coming out of Aurora high school in Nebraska. A tight end with zero scholarship offers, Boerkircher decided to walk-on with his home town team in 2020, spending four years with the Cornhuskers. He finally earned a scholarship as a sophomore in 2023, primarily through unmatched work ethic and embracing special teams. Despite never having more than six catches in any season, Boerkircherâs team-first mentality saw him coveted by a host of schools in the transfer portal, and he headed to College Station for his final college season. He tripled his receiving output with the Aggies, but caught the eye mostly in the run game as one of the most dominant inline blockers in the Power 4. 61% of his snaps for Texas A&M came on run plays, and his ability to open run lanes for ball carriers appealed to James Gladstone, completing quite the journey for Boerkircher.
Nate Boerkircher was an unranked zero-star recruit before walking on at Nebraska.
Boerkircher had modest production at Nebraska but excelled in blocking at Texas A&M, particularly in run plays.
He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and contributed to pediatric brain cancer awareness through the Archer Foundation.
Boerkircher has a Relative Athletic Score of 8.89, placing him in the top 11% of tight ends since 1987.
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Boerkircher wasnât always the hulking, 6â5â, 245lb specimen we saw suit up in maroon this past season. In fact, part of the reason he flew under the radar as a high school recruit will have been his late physical development⊠Whilst at Aurora, Nate played on the same team as his older brother Ian, who was significantly larger in size. This led to the younger Boerkircher being given the nickname âLittle Borkâ â a nickname that quickly became ironic as the tight end grew to be the same size as his elder sibling before following him to Lincoln, where they both suited up for the âHuskers.
Boerkircherâs selection at number 56 overall may have turned a few heads â his college production is modest after all. However, his blend of size and athleticism delivers a profile ideal for the proâs⊠A strong performance at his Pro Day saw Boerkircher deliver some eye-opening speed for a guy clocking in at taller than 6â5â. An average forty time was sweetened by some strong splits, and Boerkircher really showed his athleticism and change of direction in the three-cone drill. For those unaware of Kent Lee Platte (better known as âMathBombâ, heâs the creator of the Relative Athletic Score, a metric that combines size, strength and athleticism that compares profiles of NFL Draft prospects. Boerkircherâs RAS comes in at 8.89 (out of a possible perfect 10), putting him in the top 11% of all tight ends recorded since 1987. These numbers suggest that, from a physical and athletic standpoint at the very least, the Jaguarsâ second round pick should adapt well to life in the NFL.
Gladstone likes to talk about âintangibly richâ draft prospects â those that bring more to the team than just the raw skills needed to play the game. In this regard, Boerkircher stands out; a finance major who graduated at Nebraska almost two years ago, he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, reserved for the conferenceâs football stars that excelled in the classroom as well as on the football field. Boerkircher was also named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship team during his time with the Huskers, an award that recognizes student-athletes that demonstrate exceptional community service, mentorship and academic dedication. Named after Nebraskaâs legendary head coach, it is an honor reserved for those who have completed at least six service projects alongside their sports and studies.
Nate Boerkircherâs contribution to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team didnât stick to the classroom. His involvement with pediatric brain cancer awareness centers on his partnership with the Archer Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families affected by DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an aggressive and inoperable brain tumor. The foundation was inspired by Archer, a five-year-old boy diagnosed with DIPG in late 2023. Boerkircher used his platform as a college athlete to drive both awareness and funding for the cause, fundraising through on-field performance and social media activities, including raising $1 for every share of a campaign post on Instagram. The funds raised through these initiatives provided direct financial relief to families, helping cover daily expenses, travel for clinical trials, and creating special experiences for children battling the disease. Boerkircherâs dedication to local philanthropic causes will be well received in Jacksonville, who have the honor of having one of their own (Arik Armstead) receive the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award two years ago for similar levels of community service.