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BWI Live: How does Penn State find so many diamonds in tight end recruiting?

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•05/15/24•

ThomasFrankCarr

Tyler Warren, Matt Henderson Khalil Dinkins Penn State Football On3
Penn State's tight end roster is littered with players who were at different positions in high school. Khalil Dinkins (left) was a linebacker and multi-positional offensive weapon. Meanwhile Tyler Warren (right) played quarterback and recent commit Matt Henderson is a wide receiver. (Photo: Steve Manuel/BWI and Matt Henderson family)

The Penn State football Recruiting Class of 2025 got a surprise commitment from unranked tight end prospect Matt Henderson a week ago. With several national prospects left on the recruiting board, why did Penn State accept Henderson’s commitment? We’ll answer that today by discussing the team’s track record of finding and developing the right high school athletes that turn into premiere college tight ends. Join the BWI Live Show today at 10 a.m. as we discuss Ty Howle’s ability to recruit and develop top-tier athletes at his position. 

With official visits fast approaching, be sure to subscribe to the Blue-White Illustrated YouTube Channel and our site so that you don’t miss insider intel, breaking news videos, and expert analysis. The BWI Live Show comes to you Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday every week year-round. 

Penn State lands Matt Henderson

For the second year in a row, Penn State found and recruited an underrated tight end prospect. Last year, Luke Reynolds went from an unheralded three-star player to a top-50 prospect during his senior season. Willt he same be true of Henderson? We discuss his physical tools and what he shares in common with those players who came before him in the recruiting process. 

We’ll also discuss what Penn State looks for in a tight end prospect. Most of the team’s commits don’t play the position in high school, so how does Howle identify the correct jumbo-receivers to convert into tight ends? We highlight certain physical indicators on today’s show that indicate potential growth. From there, we’ll discuss the other characteristics of a tight Nittany Lion end.

Discussing the team’s current players

After reviewing the recruiting situation, we turn our attention to the position on the Penn State roster. Which players are next up for the team that’s sent multiple tight ends to the NFL in the last five years? We’ll discuss Tyler Warren’s importance to the new offense under Andy Kotelnicki. Next, we’ll recap the position battle for the second tight end spot between Khalil Dinkins and Andrew Rappleyea. Which player has the leg up, and what will determine the position in the battle this summer? We discuss what is next for that pair of players. 

We also take questions from fans submitted to the show. What are the underlying characteristics of a James Franklin offense? From coordinator to coordinator, what are the common themes that Franklin has leaned towards? Fans also want to know how the integration of Pac-12 officials and players could affect the playing style of the Big Ten on defense. 

Join the show to get your questions and thoughts on air! 

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