The second NFL player to crack our Top 50 list is former Arizona State Sun Devils tight end Todd Heap.
After capturing back-to-back state championships and earning all-state honors during his high school career at Mountain View High School, Heap joined Arizona State in 1998.
Affectionately known as the “Golden Retriever,” the Mesa native went on to become a mainstay in the Sun Devils offense. In three seasons, Heap hauled in 115 receptions for 1,685 yards (both the most ever recorded by an ASU tight end) and 10 touchdowns. He was named to the all-Pac-10 team in both 1999 and 2000, then decided to forgo his senior season to enter the 2001 NFL Draft.
Heap was selected in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens with the 31st overall pick. He played 10 seasons with the Ravens, appearing in 133 games while starting 126 of them. With Baltimore, the 6-foot-5, 252-pound tight end caught 467 passes for 5,492 yards (both second in Ravens history) and 41 touchdowns (first in Ravens history), and was named to two Pro Bowls in 2002 and 2003.
Following the 2010 season, at 30 years old, Heap returned home to join the Arizona Cardinals. During the two-year stint, he started five games in 12 appearances, catching 32 passes for 377 yards and one touchdown.
Heap retired after the 2012 campaign, and was inducted into the Ravens’ Ring of Honor in 2014.
The Golden Retriever serves as the golden standard for what’s expected from the tight end position at ASU. He is just the second NFL player to be named on our Top 50 list.
Check back tomorrow to see who will be No. 46.