James Franklin claims Tyler Warren as best TE in college football is 'not even a question'

It’s not every season that a tight end leads a College Football Playoff contender in receiving yards in mid-November. Brock Bowers did it for three seasons at Georgia, and he’s having the best rookie season of any tight end in the NFL this season for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Penn State star Tyler Warren has had a similar impact on his team this season. Not only does he lead the Nittany Lions in receiving yards (681), but he has 30 more receptions than the next closest receiver on the roster.

“He’s been phenomenal,” head coach James Franklin told reporters on Wednesday. “To me, it’s not even a question that he’s the best tight end in college football. You can make the argument that he’s one of the most impactful football players in all of college football.”

To say he’s been pivotal to Penn State’s winning efforts this season is an understatement. Not only does he provide a sure hand in the passing game, but at 6-foot-6 and 257 pounds he has the frame to block athletic EDGE rushers and can shed his block to the second level of the defense.

Moreover, he’s just as great of a teammate as he is a player, according to his head coach.

“We do these team shares,” Franklin said. “He got up and did a share a few weeks ago. I thought it was really valuable because one of the things he got up and said was as a true freshman, he didn’t know if he’d ever play here. And for our freshmen and some sophomores be sitting in that room, and they’re questioning the same thing — you’re hearing Tyler Warren say that. You’re like, ‘wow.’ You’d never think Tyler Warren felt that way based on how he is playing right now.

“I think it’s a really good example that everybody’s journey is different. Everybody’s race is different. They all develop at different kinds of stages and speeds.”

Warren’s honesty in front of the Nittany Lions’ underclassmen adds another layer to his leadership qualities that Franklin has talked at length about during his career. That trait is something many NFL scouts look for in potential draftees, so it’s no surprise that Warren is expected to be one of the top tight ends drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The senior tight end has three more regular season games to round out his legacy in Happy Valley. He’ll look to continue his impact during Week 12’s road trip at Purdue. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET live on CBS.