Thomas Fidone II, the country's top tight end recruit in 2021, knows a thing or two about receiving offers from major programs. And they haven't stopped.
Tight End University was the latest one to come calling, and for anyone who plays the position, it can't be refused. The rookie, along with Giants teammates Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger and Chris Manhertz, recently attended the three-day summit in Nashville to bond, collaborate and learn from their peers.
Fidone caught up with KETV's Matt Sottile in the tight end's hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, to talk about his time at Tight End University, where the 219th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft drew some praise from one of its deans and future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce.
"I got some pretty cool compliments from Kelce just out of the blue, which was pretty cool," the University of Nebraska product said on Omaha's KETV. "He told me I was extremely athletic and moved extremely well. He told me that my top of routes were really good. He didn't say it like that, but he said it, so just being able to hear that from him was cool. I thought it was awesome being able to just connect and make connections with all the guys around there."
Founded in 2021 by Kelce, George Kittle and Greg Olsen, Tight End University has grown wildly into a can't-miss event for players at the position – whether they're active or NFL alumni. Additionally, all proceeds via sponsorships are donated to charities selected by the hosts.
"Being able to meet with them, work out with them, [you] get different input from everyone," Fidone said, "and kind of see how they do things differently because each tight end is different and has different skill sets and strong suits and stuff like that. It's fun to be able to learn from them."
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Around the NFL
With the Top 100 Players of 2025 countdown underway, take a look through Giants on the list in past years.
2011: G Chris Snee (No. 77)
2011: S Antrel Rolle (No. 68)
2011: DE Justin Tuck (No. 60)
2012: WR Hakeem Nicks (No. 90)
2012: DE Justin Tuck (No. 62)
2012: WR Victor Cruz (No. 39)
2012: QB Eli Manning (No. 31)
2012: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 24)
2013: WR Victor Cruz (No. 58)
2013: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 55)
2013: QB Eli Manning (No. 43)
2014: S Antrel Rolle (No. 72)
2015: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 32)
2016: QB Eli Manning (No. 47)
2016: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 10)
2017: DT Damon Harrison (No. 96)
2017: CB Janoris Jenkins (No. 54)
2017: S Landon Collins (No. 28)
2017: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 8)
2018: S Landon Collins (No. 92)
2018: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 77)
2019: RB Saquon Barkley (No. 16)
2020: RB Saquon Barkley (No. 31)
2021: DL Leonard Williams (No. 84)
2021: CB James Bradberry (No. 74)
2022: DL Leonard Williams (No. 97)
2023: RB Saquon Barkley (No. 31)
2023: DL Dexter Lawrence (No. 28)
2024: OLB Brian Burns (No. 55)
2024: DL Dexter Lawrence (No. 24)
