Khalil Dinkins bringing 'high ceiling, high floor' to Penn State football

Before Tyler Bowen’s move from Penn State’s tight ends room to the assistant coaching staff of the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had a recruiting class to welcome. The offensive recruiting coordinator for the Nittany Lions’ Class of 2021, which included an On3 four-star prospect in his room in Khalil Dinkins.

An October commitment out of North Allegheny in Wexford, Pa., Dinkins intrigued Bowen for two reasons in particular. Explaining to reporters Dinkins’ appeal on the early signing day in December 2020, Bowen said high ceilings are great, but so are high floors. 

“If you look at his skill set, compared nationally, he really jumped up my list and ended up being one of my favorites in the entire class and obviously the favorite when it came down to it,” Bowen said. “He has incredible athleticism, can run, the ability to run after the catch. He’s got incredible ball skills. A big frame that’s going to be able to develop and add weight. 

“It’s important that guys are versatile. I think that in the tight end position, you’re asked to do so many different things. That spatial awareness, that feel, that field vision is extremely important at that position. And I think he displays all of those things on his high school tape. Getting to know him, he’s an incredible kid, a great family. So, we’re very excited about him. High ceiling, but I also think a very high floor.”

First-year recap

Wrapping up his first full year at Penn State, Dinkins is determined to bring that prognostication to fruition.

And, as Bowen outlined in his initial assessment of Dinkins, much of that work has come in the weight room and dining room. Arriving at Penn State at 215 pounds, the 6-foot-4 tight end now reports himself at 235 this summer, having crossed the 240-pound threshold earlier in the year. 

Doing so demanded Dinkins to shed the notion that he’d serve as something of a hybrid receiving tight end, though.  

“When I came here, I was trying to be a little bit of a receiver. So I didn’t come here with a lot of weight. I came here at 215. But then I quickly realized that’s not going to happen,” Dinkins said. “So I’m fine with playing the tight end position. I love it. I’m getting to know the guys and the coaches. So right now I’m about like 235. So that’s a good weight right now. But that’s just right now, I had weighed more earlier during the fall semester. So I gained like 20-30 pounds during this year.”

More work remains for Dinkins ahead of the 2022 season, however.

Hoping to reach a playing weight of between 245 and 250 pounds, Dinkins has embraced the necessity of that added weight despite the challenge it has presented him personally.

“It’s just hard for me to gain weight. I’ve always been this taller, leaner guy. It’s easier for me to put on muscle than it is for me to get thicker,” Dinkins said. “I just gotta take my creatine, take my protein and drink chocolate milk all day.”

Khalil Dinkins’ next steps

The intended dividend is a necessity at the position for Penn State. Acknowledging the learning curve to picking up the blocking element as a tight end, Dinkins said he has been willing and able to learn from Brenton Strange, who he described as the best blocking tight end in the room.

Still, improvement remains an essential step for Dinkins to take if he intends to reach his goals for the 2022 season.

“At this level (blocking) is very different. When I first got here, I wasn’t that good at it,” Dinkins said. “I have gotten better along the way. But, it’s a big change from going from a two-point stance to putting my hand in the dirt.

“It’s not really about what you want to do, it is really for the team. So, it’s not like I don’t want to block this. It’s, I want to get this done for my team so we can score on this play.”

Praising his more experienced teammates in the room, calling Theo Johnson a mentor, and noting Tyler Warren as having “the best hands” in the tight end room, Dinkins’ climb to playing time isn’t lost on him this year.

Still, pleased with his progress to this point, while trying to get onto the field where possible, Dinkins has set out goals for himself between now and the start of the season.

“I would say my strength is my speed and my route running,” Dinkins said. “Right now, I wouldn’t say I’m in a position to say I’m a good blocker. I’m a decent blocker. But I still have room to grow in that area.

“I’m getting better. I’m trying to play this year, so I’m working to get in this year. But we still have good tight ends that I still gotta work to get up to. So I guess we’ll have to see.”