Harold Fannin Jr. is a bit of a freak. Honestly, there isn't a better way to put it. If you watched Bowling Green over the last year, you saw a guy who looked like a wide receiver trapped in a tight end’s frame, moving through MAC defenses like they were standing still. He didn't just play well; he broke the sport for a season.
By the time the 2024 college season wrapped up, the Harold Fannin Jr stats weren't just impressive—they were historic. We’re talking about 1,555 receiving yards in a single season. For a tight end. That isn't just a school record at Bowling Green; it’s an all-time FBS record. He surpassed the mark set by Jace Amaro back in 2013, and he did it while being the absolute focal point of every defensive coordinator's nightmare.
You’ve probably heard people say, "Oh, it's just the MAC," but that's a lazy take. Look at what he did against the big boys. Against Penn State and Texas A&M—two of the nastiest defenses in the country—he put up back-to-back games with at least eight catches and over 135 yards. You don't stumble into those numbers.
The Ridiculous 2024 Breakout
Let’s get into the weeds of the 2024 season because the volume is just stupid. Fannin hauled in 117 receptions. To give you some context, most "elite" college tight ends are lucky to see 60 targets, let alone 117 catches. He averaged 9.0 receptions per game. Basically, if the ball was in the air, it was probably headed toward number zero.
He ended the year with 10 receiving touchdowns and even chipped in on the ground, because why not? He took 9 carries for 65 yards and another score. He was the entire offense.
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One of the wildest things about the Harold Fannin Jr stats from that year is the efficiency. He averaged 119.6 receiving yards per game. Most teams would kill for a WR1 to produce that, but Fannin did it from the tight end spot, often lining up in-line and then just burning linebackers across the middle. PFF (Pro Football Focus) absolutely loved him, giving him a 95.9 overall grade—the highest in the country.
Why the NFL Took Notice
The Cleveland Browns saw enough to snag him in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 67th overall. It was a smart move. They needed a "chess piece," and Fannin is exactly that. He’s not the biggest guy on the field at 6'4" and around 230-240 pounds, but he plays huge.
During his rookie year in Cleveland, he didn't slow down much. He finished the 2025 NFL season with 72 receptions for 731 yards and 6 touchdowns. For a rookie tight end, those are Pro Bowl-caliber numbers. He actually led the Browns in receptions, which tells you a lot about the state of their receiving room and how much they trust the kid from Canton.
- Total Career Stats (Bowling Green): 180 receptions, 2,396 yards, 17 TDs.
- Rushing (Bowling Green): 33 carries, 159 yards, 5 TDs.
- Rookie NFL Year (Browns): 72 receptions, 731 yards, 6 TDs.
He’s currently ranking as one of the top young tight ends in the league, often compared to guys like Brevin Jordan or a more athletic version of the modern "move" tight end. He’s already showing that his 4.71 speed is "football fast" rather than just "track fast." His burst out of his breaks is what makes him a nightmare in the red zone.
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Breaking Down the "YAC" King
If you want to know why he’s successful, look at the "Yards After Catch." In 2024, he led all FBS tight ends with 750 yards after the catch. He also broke 34 tackles. That is an absurd stat for a pass catcher. It means he isn't just catching and falling down; he’s punishing defensive backs who try to bring him down solo.
Most people look at the total yardage and miss the first downs. Fannin moved the chains 74 times in his final college season. That’s nearly six times a game where he single-handedly kept a drive alive.
There's some debate about his blocking. Some scouts thought he was too small to hold up at the point of attack in the NFL. But honestly? He’s scrappy. He posted a 74.5 run-blocking grade at BGSU, which was actually better than many of the "big" tight ends coming out that year like Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren. He’s not going to maul a 270-pound defensive end, but he’s going to get in the way and stay sticky.
The Historic Bowl Performance
We have to talk about the 68Ventures Bowl against Arkansas State. That was his "mic drop" moment. 17 receptions. 213 yards. A touchdown.
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It was the most receptions by a tight end in a single game in FBS history (tied). Watching that game was like watching a varsity player go back and play against the middle school team. He was everywhere. Every time Bowling Green needed a play, it was Fannin on a crosser or a seam route. It solidified his status as the first-ever consensus All-American in Bowling Green history.
What’s Next for Fannin?
Going into the 2026 season, the expectations are sky-high. He’s no longer a "sleeper" in fantasy football. He finished 2025 as the TE4 in many PPR leagues, which is a massive jump from where he was being drafted (usually around TE34).
The Browns are basically building the passing game around him and Jerry Jeudy. If they can figure out the quarterback situation, Fannin has a real shot at 1,000 yards in the pros. He’s already proved the "small school" stigma is total nonsense.
If you're looking to track his progress or looking for actionable ways to use this info, keep an eye on his "Targets per Route Run" (TPRR). In 2025, it was among the highest for tight ends in the league. That means when he’s on the field, the ball is going his way. For fantasy players, he’s a "set it and forget it" starter. For Browns fans, he’s the bright spot in a rebuilding offense.
To really understand his value, you should watch his tape against Texas A&M from 2024. It shows exactly how his game translates to the NFL: winning against elite athleticism through pure route running and hands.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, start watching how Cleveland uses him in 12-personnel sets (two tight ends). If he stays on the field for those blocking snaps, his ceiling is basically the moon. Check the weekly injury reports and target shares on PFF to see if his usage remains consistent, as he's the focal point of that aerial attack now.