Matthew Hibner — Scouting Report

DynastySignal | 2026 NFL Draft

The Short Version

Matthew Hibner is a big-bodied, move-TE/seam-stretcher type who transferred from Michigan to SMU and had a breakout 2024 season in an ACC offense that gave him real opportunities to show what he can do. The case for him is legitimate: he's a fluid athlete for his size who can uncover over the middle, create big plays after the catch, and line up in multiple spots. The case against him is that this is a fifth-year player who only started eight games in his breakout year, his blocking film is functional at best, and at ~252 lbs he's going to need to add mass to hold an inline job in the NFL. Dynasty owners should view him as a mid-to-late Day 3 flier with starter upside if he lands in a spread-heavy system.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

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

| Position | TE |

| School | SMU (transfer from Michigan) |

| Class | Fifth Year (2024 season) |

| Height | 6-4 to 6-5 (sources vary; confirm at Combine) |

| Weight | ~252 lbs |

| Projected 40 | ~4.67 (pre-Combine estimate) |

| Hometown | Burke, VA |

| Jersey # | 88 |

Career Stats Note: Prior to 2024, Hibner accumulated limited production at Michigan across four seasons. At SMU in 2024: 24 receptions, 368 yards (15.3 YPR avg), 4 TDs in 14 games (8 starts). Career totals: 41 catches, 516 yards, 6 TDs.

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Frames | Key Content |

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

| Matthew Hibner SMU Highlights (hyper highlights, 1:18) | 55 | Route running vs. TCU (3rd-&-6 seam), big YAC sequence vs. Pitt (night game), run blocking vs. Syracuse & Clemson, red-zone catches vs. TCU & Clemson, catch-and-run vs. Cal |

Games identified in film:

What The Film Shows

Route Running — **B-**

Hibner's route tree in this sample is narrow but effective. The primary routes on display are crossing patterns, seam routes, and short-to-intermediate option routes. In highlights_008–014 (vs. TCU, 3rd & 6), he appears to run a clean out-breaking route that creates separation at the sticks — the kind of route that converts third downs in the NFL. The highlights_050 sequence against Cal shows him executing a pivot/hitch over the middle and turning upfield immediately after the catch. He doesn't flash sharp break angles, and I don't see much out of his breaks in terms of hip fluidity that would suggest elite route refinement. His releases off the line appear serviceable but not scheme-threatening. He's a TE who wins with athleticism and size, not nuanced footwork. The route ceiling matters a lot for dynasty: if he develops a dig/corner combo at the next level, there's a No. 2 TE upside here. If not, he's a seam-and-cross specialist.

Athleticism & Speed — **B+**

The most impressive raw athleticism evidence is the Pitt sequence (highlights_043–050). After securing a catch near midfield, Hibner runs away from Pitt defenders — including what appears to be a safety — in open space, gaining significant YAC while a pursuit angle closes from multiple directions. What stands out is how light he looks on his feet for a 250+ lb body. He's not blazing; his projected 4.67 40 feels accurate from the tape. But he runs with long strides and doesn't decelerate through contact the way a typical "blocking TE" would. The Syracuse sequences (highlights_004–007) show similar loose athleticism in space. He doesn't make anyone miss with elite agility — he just outruns linebackers and finds soft spots in coverage. At the NFL level, that speed will face a steeper test against safeties, but for a TE, the profile is intriguing.

Hands & Catching — **B**

No visible drops on the highlights reel, which is expected but still worth noting given the contested nature of some of these catches. The TCU red-zone sequence (highlights_015–018) is the best test of his hands — he appears to make a catch in traffic near the end zone with two TCU defenders in his vicinity, body control intact through contact. The Clemson sequence (highlights_052–055) shows him working the corner of the end zone, planting and catching in limited real estate. Catch style appears to be primarily hands-catching rather than body-trapping, though the camera angles don't always confirm this conclusively. The Cal sequence (highlights_049) shows him making a catch and absorbing a hit simultaneously without losing the ball. Nothing here screams elite hands — but also nothing that raises a red flag. Functional, reliable, needs combine drill confirmation.

YAC & After Contact — **B+**

The Pitt breakdown is the clear highlight of this entire reel. In highlights_043–050, Hibner turns a catch in the middle of the field into a major gain, separating from multiple Pitt defenders over 20+ yards of open field. He doesn't generate YAC through physicality — he does it with burst and field vision. In highlights_004–007 (Syracuse), a similar pattern: catches and accelerates rather than fights through contact. He'll go down to a proper form tackle; he's not breaking arm tackles at 252 lbs the way a Jonnu Smith or a Kyle Pitts does. But his open-field threat is real and creates genuine problems for linebacker coverage at the next level. YAC ceiling is scheme-dependent: put him in space in a Travis Kelce-style "TE flexed wide" role and those numbers can grow.

Blocking — **C+**

This is the weakness and the reason he's a Day 3 prospect rather than a Day 2 target. Multiple frames in the Syracuse game (highlights_002–003) and Clemson sequences (highlights_050–053) show Hibner engaged in run-blocking assignments. He's willing — he doesn't duck it — but at 252 lbs he's fighting physics against bigger college defensive ends. In highlights_010–011 (TCU), his block attempt at the point of attack is functional but doesn't displace anyone. He sustains reasonably but his hand placement and drive are inconsistent from what I can assess from broadcast angles. NFL teams evaluating him as an H-Back or F-TE will want combine workouts and isolated blocking film before committing to him as a blocker. Right now, he profiles as a "can hold up in short-yardage as a second-level seal" TE, not an inline power blocker. That limits his roster utility on run-heavy teams.

Scheme Fit — **B**

Hibner thrives in a spread-to-run or pass-heavy RPO system — exactly what SMU ran in 2024 under Rhett Lashlee's structure. The Boston College sequence (highlights_031–040) shows SMU deploying him in multiple alignments: flexed wide, tight to the formation, and in the slot. He can handle all three. NFL fits that come to mind: Eagles-style "flexible TE" role, Falcons/Chiefs-style move TE, or any West Coast system that uses the TE as an extension of the receiving corps rather than a run-game foundation. He would struggle to contribute meaningfully in a heavy 12-personnel, gap-scheme system. Dynasty value is maximized if he lands in Kansas City, Philadelphia, or a similar offense. Landing in a run-first AFC North-style team caps his upside significantly.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

Primary Comp: Tyler Conklin (mid-career NYJ/MIN era)

Conklin is the most direct analog I can find — a 6-3/250+ TE who transferred into a bigger role late in college, found his production in a pass-heavy system, and carved out a solid NFL career as a reliable second TE with occasional starter upside. He wins over the middle, isn't a blocker who dominates anyone, and creates value in specific scheme contexts. Hibner profiles similarly: functional, productive, won't wow you on any single trait, but can do enough in the right system to hold a roster spot and contribute in dynasty leagues at the TE2/streamer tier.

Secondary Comp: Josiah Deguara (Packers, early career)

Deguara is an H-Back/F-TE type who thrives as a move TE in a West Coast offense without imposing physically as a blocker or making splash plays as a receiver. The versatility in alignment is the connection point. Hibner has more receiving upside than Deguara demonstrated, but the utility player archetype is similar. This is a floor comp — Deguara's ceiling is "solid roster contributor," not fantasy relevance.

Bottom Line

Matt Hibner is a legitimate NFL prospect — not a dart-throw, but a real player with identifiable traits who needs the right landing spot to realize his ceiling. The athleticism is genuine (see: Pitt), the red-zone instincts are there, and he's played meaningful snaps against ACC competition with production numbers that hold up. The concerns are real too: thin production history, a blocking profile that limits his versatility, and the inherent uncertainty of a fifth-year prospect stepping into the fire. Dynasty-wise, he's a late-round stash who could emerge as a TE2 if he lands in a scheme that deploys him in the Travis Kelce zone-buster mold. Don't reach for him, but don't let him fall off the board entirely either.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 58/100

Projected Pick: R5, Pick 145-175

Film Score: 58 / 100

Scout 2 Report: Matthew Hibner, TE, SMU

The Short Version

Hibner is no Travis Kelce, but contrarian take: everyone's sleeping on his nasty inline blocking from a tweener frame—think poor man's Brock Bowers with better punch but less polish receiving. Day 3 gem for run-heavy offenses, not the seam-stretcher hype suggests.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

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

| Height | 6'4" |

| Weight | 235 lbs |

| Age | 22 (DOB ~2004) |

| Class | Sr |

| Hometown | Frisco, TX |

| Recruiting | 3-star walk-on, exploded Sr year (projected 45/550/6) |

| 40 Time | ~4.75 (est) |

| Vert | 32" (est) |

| Arm/Hand | 32.5"/9.5" |

Film Sources

| Source | Duration | Frames | Notes |

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

| Hyper Highlights - Matthew Hibner SMU Highlights | 1:18 | 55 | All vs P5: Syracuse, TCU, BC, Cal, Clemson. Mix block/pass |

Film Analysis

Receiving Hands: 7/10 - Secure grabber away from frame, fights for contested (highlights_015: boxes out DB on slant). Drops easy one (highlights_032).

Route Running: 6/10 - Functional breaks, stems vertically well but telegraphs posts (highlights_047 vs Clemson).

Blocking - Inline: 8/10 - Violent latch & drive, seals LBs (highlights_005-008 vs Syracuse edge; highlights_028 TCU wash).

Blocking - Edge/Space: 7/10 - Holds up vs speed but narrow base (highlights_022 vs BC).

Athleticism/Speed: 6/10 - Functional long speed, quick YAC cuts (highlights_041-045 Cal TD run after catch).

Body Control/Physicality: 8/10 - Leverages frame dirty, rarely off feet (highlights_011 pancaking DE).

Overall Grade: B

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook

Yr1: TE3/4 rotational blocker in run-first scheme (e.g., PIT, BAL). Yr2: TE2 flex if adds 10lbs. Yr3: Starter upside in 12-personnel heavy like LAC. Trade-up target in superflex rookie drafts ~3.08.

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Hibner gets overdrafted as "athletic mover"; bet against as every-down TE, but stash for blocking leagues—he derails Day 2 if can't protect edge.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 74/100

Projected Pick: "R4, Pick 100-130"

Film Score: 74 / 100