His success caught no one off guard

Rookie tight end Gadsden lives up to the hype with the Chargers

- BY BENJAMIN ROYER

ORONDE Gadsden II scores a touchdown against the Colts' Mekhi Blackmon.

(ERIC THAYER Los Angeles Times)

Tre' Harris watched as Oronde Gadsden II burst by him, the 6-foot-5 tight end chugging over the turf at Golden West College's football field.

Months before Harris and Gadsden suited up as Chargers rookies, the duo were catching passes from Jaxson Dart — now the starting quarterback for the New York Giants — during pre-NFL Scouting Combine training sessions at the Huntington Beach community college as the trio took advantage of sunny weather in Southern California.

"I saw his talents immediately," Dart said of Gadsden. "Skill set-wise, I thought he was a very unique athlete, being, you know, the stature that he is. I thought his footwork was some of the best that I've seen."

Over the last two weeks, the footwork that Harris said separates Gadsden from the rest of the NFL has been on display.

Gadsden, 22, ranks fifth in NFL tight end receiving yards this season (385) despite not playing in the first two games. Two weeks ago, against the Colts, the son of former NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsden emerged for 164 receiving yards and a touchdown. Against the Vikings last week, the former Syracuse standout, who set the program record for receptions in a season with 73 catches, recorded an additional 77 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Those accomplishments which he credits to studying the likes of Chargers teammates Keenan Allen and Will Dissly - earned Gadsden NFL Rookie of the Week honors in Week 7, the first Charger to receive the award since Asante Samuel Jr. did it twice in 2021.