In hindsight it was very easy to see what Trey McBride preferred in a College Program, a tough, rugged program that can feature a superstar and teach them everything they need to reach the next level, and I guess being an hour and thirty minutes from where he grew up in Fort Morgan, Colorado doesn't hurt. McBride received offers from California, Kansas State, Wyoming, Navy and Colorado State, he opted to stay home and play for the Rams. In High School, McBride totaled 89 receptions 1,737 yards and 23 touchdowns as a tight end at Fort Morgan while receiving the National Football foundation Colorado Chapter Scholar-Athlete award.
As a true freshman at Colorado State, McBride saw the field in all 12 games but only caught 7 balls for 89 yards while playing with future NFL Wide Receivers Preston Williams, Olabisi Johnson, and Warren Jackson. McBride was named an Academic All-Mountain West in each of the four seasons for the Rams, while garnering All-Mountain West first team selections on the field from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, McBride took the next step in putting forth one of the greatest tight end seasons of all-time at the college level, leading the FBS in receptions(90), yards(1,121), and yards per game(93.4), he was named the first unanimous All-American in program history, and was the recipient of the John Mackey award, given to the Nations Best Tight End. Other Mackey award winners include, Kyle Pitts in 2020, T.J. Hockenson in 2018, and Mark Andrews in 2017.
McBride would be drafted in the 2nd round, and his first year in the league was silent while he set behind veteran Zach Ertz. This would change early on in his second season when McBride would start to see increased playing time. McBride would be cemented as the full time starter when Ertz was lost for the season due to a leg injury. McBride would go on to finish as a top 10 tight end in six weeks of the season. He had over 100 targets and finished 1st among tight ends in target rate. Even with the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr., McBride appears to be settled in as the #2 option for Kyler Murray and this new look Cardinals offense. McBride should provide value in all fantasy formats.
