Jim Harbaugh is already giving praise to specific UDFAs following the team’s three-day rookie mini camp.
The Chargers held their rookie mini camp over the weekend and of course we got some great content via Jim Harbaugh’s latest story at the podium that I’m sure we’re all going ingrain in our heads for the foreseeable future (more on that at another time, however).
While recently speaking with the media, Harbaugh got caught on riff about a few specific undrafted free agents that he believes are already making a name for themselves, specifically highlighting them by name.
The first — probably to no one’s surprise — was former South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders. Harbaugh told reporters he is well-versed on Sanders and that the young back “great tape.” Additionally, Daniel Popper of The Athletic observed that Sanders was the only UDFA who was not tasked with doing extra work on the field following practice, joining the team’s nine draft picks.
The two other players were probably less expected. They were wideout Luke Grimm (Kansas) and tight end Stevo Klotz (Iowa State), both of whom “popped” on film, per Harbaugh.
Popper called Grimm a “polished and shift route runner” who was able to showcase that talent during individual drills this past Friday. He led the Jayhawks in all receiving categories while in an offense that didn’t perform up to expectations in 2024. On top of it all, Grimm has experience as a returner which only further increases his potential value via special teams.
Klotz is a former linebacker-turned-tight end who made the transition after his freshman season with the Cyclones. He was a seldomly-used pass catcher with only 15 receptions, 149 yards, and two touchdowns to his name in college. However, Harbaugh went as far as to say thatK Klotz has a chance to be an “above-average core special teams player” in the NFL. Now that doesn’t sound like the highest of praise, but guys who can stick around and be impactful on special teams can just as easily carve out a long career for themselves the same way superstars do.
As far as a role on offense, Harbaugh said Klotz could “acquit himself” at either fullback or tight end. At 6’4 and 260 pounds, Klotz has great size and could end up working his way into a Tyler Fisk-esque role as a contributor in the run game.