Sam Roush | TE | Stanford | Sr. | 2026 NFL Draft

DynastySignal Scouting Report

The Short Version

Sam Roush is a classic Stanford tight end — smart, sure-handed, consistently productive, and genuinely two-way. The 6'5", 260-pound senior capped a four-year career with All-ACC Second Team honors and career highs in every major receiving category, operating as the unambiguous offensive hub on a team that struggled to win games. He won't dazzle you on a route-running clinic tape, but what he does — stack defenders at the line, create width on seam routes, and turn short catches into chunk plays — translates to the NFL. The concern is the ceiling: he's closer to a reliable TE2 than a difference-maker.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|------------------|-------------------------------------------|

| Position | Tight End (TE) |

| School | Stanford (ACC) |

| Class | Senior (4-year starter, 2022–2025) |

| Height | 6'5" |

| Weight | 260 lbs |

| Projected 40 | ~4.65 sec |

| Hometown | Nashville, TN |

| Recruit Grade | 4-star (Class of 2022) |

| Career Starts | 34 (30 consecutive to close career) |

| 2025 Stats | 49 REC / 545 YDS / 2 TD (All-ACC 2nd Tm) |

| Career GP | 48 (all played) |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Description | Frames | Prefix |

|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------|---------------|

| Ryder McConville | Film Breakdown: Well-Rounded TE Skill Set, 2026 NFL Draft | 18 | film_ |

| ACC Digital Network | 2025 Regular Season Highlights, Stanford TE | 18 | highlights_ |

| Prospects | Sam Roush Highlights (3:30) | 19 | highlights_2_ |

What The Film Shows

Route Running | **B / 7.0**

Roush's route running is the strongest argument for a Day 2 pick. The film shows him aligned inline, in the slot, as a wing, and split wide — and he executes different route concepts from each alignment without tipping the play. Against Boston College (highlights_002, film_001–005), he's working a crosser or seam route and hits it with a clean release off the line, gaining immediate separation from a linebacker in trail coverage. That turned into a 69-yard catch-and-run — not a lucky big play, a designed opportunity that he converted because he won the route. Against SMU (highlights_2_004–005), he's clearly working a modified corner or deep crosser against a quality cornerback, and his route stem — staying skinny with subtle contact and accelerating into his break — creates clean separation. He doesn't win with elite athleticism; he wins with timing and body control. The concern is zone coverage — multiple frames (highlights_007, film_006) show him slowing to locate the ball in zone coverages, and he doesn't always find the soft spot quickly. Against Florida State and Notre Dame (highlights_010, film_016–018) he spends time looking back to the QB rather than continuing to drive into open space. Good, not great. At the NFL level this has to sharpen if he wants to be a starter, but the foundation is there.

Athleticism & Speed | **B- / 6.5**

At 6'5" and 260 lbs, Roush moves in a way that consistently flashes above-average athleticism for the position. The BC long gain (highlights_002) is the standout — he takes a catch about 5 yards downfield and turns it into a 69-yard explosion, pulling away from defensive backs in the open field. His stride is long and smooth, not mechanical or labored. Against SMU (highlights_2_005), he's matching stride for stride with a linebacker/nickel in space down the sideline. Against Washington State in the highlights reel (highlights_2_009), he finds the end zone with body control and spatial awareness that only comes from someone comfortable moving at speed in traffic. Projected 4.65 is what the film suggests — not a burner, but he consistently creates an extra gear that average-sized TEs don't have. He's not going to stress safeties vertically on a weekly basis, but he won't be a liability in space. Long speed is serviceable; short-area explosiveness is the real question at the Combine.

Hands & Catching | **B+ / 7.5**

This is Roush's most NFL-ready trait. Through 55 frames across three sources, not a single drop stands out. He's caught the ball cleanly in traffic (highlights_2_011, highlights_016), on the back line of the end zone (highlights_2_009 — TD at Washington State), in dive situations going to the ground (highlights_005 — diving catch near the goal line), and in contested coverage at Florida State (highlights_007). His hands work outside his frame — he catches away from his body rather than body-catching, which scouts prioritize. The BC highlight (highlights_002) shows a clean reception in stride, immediately tucked for the open-field run — no juggle, no adjustment required. Against Notre Dame (highlights_016), he's fighting through contact at the catch point and securing the ball without drama. For a TE with his frame, that's legitimately impressive. Clean hands, strong concentration, and body control at the catch point. Red zone-ready now.

YAC & After Contact | **B / 6.8**

Roush consistently gains extra yards after the catch and does not go down on first contact. Multiple frames across different opponents show him requiring gang-tackling to bring down — versus Miami (highlights_009), Duke (highlights_005), and Wake Forest (highlights_2_001). His forward lean is natural — he doesn't shy away from contact — and he's shown the ability to bounce off an initial tackle and keep driving. The 69-yard run after the BC catch is the ceiling play, showing legitimate open-field ability if he can get his pads turned north after the catch. Where it's average: when Roush doesn't have a lane, he tends to absorb contact rather than create his own — he's not manufacturing yards through physicality like a genuine YAC specialist would. His run-after-catch relies on space more than contact breaking. Good enough at the NFL level to be a problem for linebackers, not a problem for safeties.

Blocking | **B- / 6.3**

This is the most mixed of his grades and the one that will drive his Day 2 vs. Day 3 debate the most. On the positive side: Roush is clearly not a reluctant blocker. The film breakdown source (film_002, film_008–015) shows him in run-game situations against Duke, Notre Dame, and Boston College, engaging at the point of attack with reasonable pad level and hand placement. Against Syracuse at Ernie Davis Field (highlights_2_014–015), there's a close-up frame showing him driving a defensive end with hands inside and a wide base — that's a proper block. Against Louisville (highlights_2_007), he's handling an edge defender in a zone-run concept with functional technique. The concern is his arm length (noted as marginal by multiple evaluators) — his punch radius limits his ability to sustain blocks against NFL-caliber pass rushers who play with leverage. In short-yardage and goal-line packages (film_008–009, highlights_013), he holds his own, but on the move or against speed-rushers who can win the outside, he's going to struggle. He's a 60/40 TE in terms of receiving vs. blocking — NFL viable in run game, not a weapon you'll scheme runs through.

Scheme Fit | **A- / 8.2**

This is Roush's best calling card. He can line up anywhere. Pre-snap frames throughout the film set show him inline right, inline left, wing left, wing right, flexed into the slot, and split wide — all with the same pre-snap demeanor. He's used in 11 and 12 personnel, in pro-style and RPO/shotgun looks. He participates in play-action (film_006, highlights_016), screens, vertical routes, crossing routes, flat/outlet routes, and red-zone isolation concepts. Any NFL offense running TE-heavy or 12-personal sets can plug Roush in immediately. He's particularly valuable for teams operating play-action systems that need a TE who can credibly block and then show up as a receiver — Kansas City, San Francisco, Detroit, Philadelphia. His Stanford background (a program that has consistently produced NFL-caliber TEs) means he arrives conceptually advanced. He's not a one-trick move TE. He's an every-down option.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

Primary: Luke Schoonmaker, DAL (2023, Round 2, Pick 58)

Schoonmaker was the exact same archetype — 6'5", 260 lb TE out of Michigan with good hands, functional blocking, adequate speed, and a polished route tree. Schoonmaker went mid-Day 2 and has been a reliable if unspectacular starter for Dallas. The comp is accurate in ceiling and floor terms: Roush has a similar chance to develop into a useful starting TE2 who produces 400-600 yards a season in a capable offense.

Secondary: Jake Ferguson, DAL (2022, Round 4, Pick 129)

Ferguson came out of Wisconsin with a similar balance of receiving polish and run-game participation. He went Day 3 and eventually became a starter for one of the NFL's most TE-heavy offenses. Roush probably lands somewhere between these two comps in terms of draft capital — better than Ferguson's Day 3 value but not quite a guaranteed Day 2.

Bottom Line

Sam Roush is a finisher — a four-year starter who shows up in every critical down, produces against quality ACC competition, and does the dirty work in the run game without complaint. He's the kind of player NFL coaches love because he adds no complications: he'll be on time, he'll know his assignments, and he'll catch what comes his way. The dynasty value depends entirely on landing spot. On a 12-personnel-heavy offense with an OC who values TE as a primary read, Roush can be a reliable TE2 producer with upside toward TE1 numbers if injuries create opportunity. On a team that uses TE as a blocking body, he's a fantasy afterthought. Draft him on Day 3 and stash him — the talent is real, the scheme fit is critical.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 67/100

Projected Pick: R3, Pick 70-90

Film Score: 67 / 100

Scout 2 Report: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

The Short Version

Roush is a reliable hands guy with plus blocking in a pro-style offense, but lacks the juice to be a seam-stretcher or YAC demon. Contrarian take: Hype as "well-rounded" oversells; he's a Day 3 plug-in who starts as TE2/3, not a priority weapon.

Measurables & Background

| Trait | Detail |

|----------------|-------------------------|

| Height | 6'5" |

| Weight | 240 lbs |

| Age (2026 Draft) | 21 |

| High School | Dublin Coffman (OH) |

| 2025 Stats | 49 REC, 545 yds, 2 TD (highlights overlays) |

| Other | Transferred? No verified combine/pro day yet |

Film Sources

| Source | Description | Frames |

|--------|-------------|--------|

| film_001-018 | Ryder McConville Breakdown (8:00) | 18 |

| highlights_001-018 | ACC Digital Network 2025 Highlights (9:38) | 37 (sampled) |

| highlights_2_001-019 | Prospects Highlights (3:30) | 19 |

Film Analysis

Route Running: 7/10 - Clean releases vs press (film_003, highlights_004), works seams and flats well but breaks lack crispness vs quicker LBs (highlights_2_012). Functional tree-climber, not separator.

Athleticism & Speed: 6/10 - Adequate burst off LOS (film_007), long-strider on verticals but no burner acceleration (highlights_011 shows chased down). Fluid hips, no twitch.

Hands & Catching: 8/10 - Plucks outside frame reliably (highlights_001 catch over shoulder, film_010), body control in traffic solid (highlights_2_005 contested). Rare drops.

YAC & After Contact: 7/10 - Gains extra with spin/stiff-arm (highlights_006 post-catch break, highlights_2_016), but tackled easily by safeties (film_015). Average balance.

Blocking: 8/10 - Violent hands, drives OLBs off ball (film_005 seal, highlights_013 combo), holds up in phone booth (highlights_2_008 vs EDGE). Scheme-sound.

Scheme Fit: 8/10 - Excels in Stanford/ACC pro-style 12-pers; inline drive blocker who moves well on choice routes. Fits Shanahan trees, struggles pure spread.

Overall Grade: B

Strengths

Concerns

Lacks elite long speed – routinely caught from behind on go routes (highlights_011, film_016). Route stems telegraphed vs man (highlights_2_012). Production inflated by volume in weak Stanford air raid shift; 11.1 ypc screams checkdowns, not chunk plays. Size limits vs NFL DEs long-term. Injury history? Unverified.

Dynasty Outlook (1-3 year window)

Year 1: TE25-30, rotational blocker/receiver (200-250 yds). Year 2: TE18-22 with targets (400 yds, 3 TD). Year 3 upside: TE12 if scheme fits (600+ yds). Safe floor, muted ceiling in PPR.

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Solid pro backup with starter traits in run-heavy schemes. Pass on early; snag late for depth.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 76/100

Projected Pick: R3, Pick 90-110

Film Score: 76 / 100