
Jelani Thurman
- Pos TE
- Height 6-6
- Weight 258
Prospect Info
- High School Langston Hughes
- City Fairburn, GA
- Exp 2023 - ...
H.S. Scouting Report
Evaluated 11/12/2021

Great height and elite frame with long arms and a large catch radius. Varied snaps flexed out, attached, and as an H-back. Owns the body to stay personnel-flexible for the long run. Generally catches the ball away from his body and shows above-average plucking ability. Dangerous in contested situations as a ball winner whose physical tools overwhelm defenders. Multi-sport athlete who plays basketball and transfers that functional athleticism to the gridiron. Shows encouraging conviction as a blocker. Flashes pop in his hands and makes disengaging difficult for opposing defenders. Also has played defensive end to add another valuable layer to strong overall athletic profile. A bit high-cut and can improve pad level as a blocker. Tight-ankled at times, resulting in rounded-off routes. Natural football player but raw technically relative to position-specific technique. On-the-rise tight end prospect who could become one of the better at the position in the 2023 class. Projects to the high-major level with a ton of potential that could ultimately lead to playing beyond college.
H.S. Athletic Background
Member of 247Sports' 2023 Freaks List.
Also plays basketball.
2021: All-region selection. A two-way player as a junior for a Langston Hughes that went 13-2 and lost in Peach State's AAAAAA title game. Caught 31 passes for 479 yards and 7 TDs per MaxPreps. Also credited with 61 tackles, 5 quarterback hurries and a sack.
Connections
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Odell Thurman
Father
Former NFL linebacker that was elected in 2nd round of 2005 draft after earning All-SEC honors while at Georgia. Was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2004.
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Kara Braxton
Mother
Former WNBA player that also played overseas. Attended Georgia.