NFL Draft: Blue Mountain grad Bartholomew selected in 6th round by Vikings

Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew leaps over a Tennessee defender en route to a touchdown (Photo by Pittsburgh Sports Now).

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Gavin Bartholomew’s dream of making the NFL became a reality Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Mountain graduate was selected with the 26th pick of the sixth round in the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, pick No. 202 overall.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder started 41 games for the Panthers, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention honors three times (2021, 2023, 2024). He hauled in 38 passes for 322 yards and four TDs this season.

The son of Eric and Diane Bartholomew of North Manheim Township, Gavin graduated early from Blue Mountain in 2021 and became an immediate contributor for Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers.

Over his four-year career at Pittsburgh, Bartholomew hauled in 104 passes for 1,248 yards and 11 touchdowns. This season, he hauled in a career-high 38 passes for 322 yards and four TDs, catching a pair of two-point conversions against Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. He then played in the prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Gavin Bartholomew’s statistics at Pittsburgh:

2021 — 13 games, 27 receptions, 317 yards, 4 TDs

2022 — 13 games, 21 receptions, 283 yards, 2 TDs

2023 — 10 games, 18 receptions, 326 yards, TD

2024 — 13 games, 38 receptions, 322 yards, 4 TDs

Career — 49 games, 104 catches, 1,248 yards, 11 TDs

Bartholomew was ranked as the 16th-best tight end entering the NFL Draft and projected as the No. 263 prospect overall. The 21-year-old was clocked at 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

ESPN.com’s evaluation compared him to Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson and gave the following analysis:

“Gavin Bartholomew is a sleek, long-striding tight end who moves more like a big receiver than a traditional in-line TE. His fluidity stands out, especially after the catch, where his balance, cutting ability and YAC potential make him a threat. His route running is smooth, and he has enough speed to stress defenses up the seam. While his catch point skills are solid, he isn’t a dominant rebounder and has some drops on film. His blocking is underdeveloped, and he needs to add strength and tenacity. Overall, Bartholomew is an underrated receiving tight end with potential for growth, especially with more physical development and refinement.”