Trey McBride is an American football tight end who will play for the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League 2022 onwards. He was drafted in the second round by the Cardinals as the 55th overall selection. 

Born in Greeley, Colorado on November 22nd, 1999, McBride attended Fort Morgan High School where he excelled in football, basketball as well as baseball. He was an All-Colorado selection in both his junior and his senior year, rushing for 226 yards, catching 30 passes for 450 yards, and scoring four total touchdowns while also recording 40 tackles and one sack on defence in his senior year. Interestingly, McBride holds the school’s career records for points scored in basketball, as well as for career home runs and RBIs in baseball.

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He decided to stay closer home and so accepted a scholarship from Colorado State to play football for the Rams. This decision paid off as he started 5 of the 12 games he featured in during his freshman year and caught seven passes for 89 yards and one touchdown that year. In his sophomore year, McBride was a first-team All-Mountain West Conference pick with four touchdowns in 12 games, of which 11 were starts.

After flirting with the possibility of a transfer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he instead chose to stay on with the Rams for 2020 and 2021, a decision validated as he won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end. McBride continued to improve and recorded at least 100 receiving yards in 6 of the 12 games he featured in during the 2021 season, managing less than 50 receiving yards just the one time. 

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His performances ensured his name was featured in the 2021 All-Mountain West Conference first team, and he was also recognised as the nation’s best tight end in college football- receiving the 2021 Mackey Award that year. McBride also featured in all five major All-American teams (AFCA, AP, FWAA, SN, WCFF) that year, making him only the fifth consensus All-American, and the first unanimous All-American in Colorado State football history. He claimed multiple school records to his name as he wrapped up a glittering college football career. 

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McBride at 6’3” is blessed with a good height and has a thick lower body that gives him an enviably low centre of gravity. This gives the athlete a control and balance that allows him to use his sturdy frame to great effect, whether it is for blocking or pass protection. His big hands ensure the ball sticks to them, even in the midst of heavy contact and traffic from opponents. He can improve his catch radius though, and also his initial burst of speed. 

As a heartwarming footnote, it is worth mentioning that McBride became the first NFL player ever to have same-sex parents; he was raised by his two mothers.