George Burhenn, Purdue TE: the 2026 season story
George Burhenn is a junior tight end for Purdue (Big Ten). He ranks 82nd of 305 tight ends in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every tight end on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. George Burhenn's strongest measure is yards per target at 9.4, 38th of 169 (the average is 7.6). His weakest is target share at 6%, 133rd of 169 (the average is 10%).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His receiving yards per game, 18, ranks 90th among 169 ranked tight ends.
Against every tight end
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of tight end he is. Among ranked tight ends he sits, on average, in the 34th percentile for volume, 66th for efficiency and 66th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 8 games, George Burhenn's best came in week 3 at UCLA and his quietest in week 9 at Penn State.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. George Burhenn is 68th of 169 FBS tight ends and 11th of 20 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Andrew Rappleyea of Penn State, 0.04 ahead on the index.
Tight ends like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Christian Bentancur of Clemson.
