Penn State will seek similar production with new leadership in tight ends room

Penn State junior Tyler Warren took to social media the night before he and the Nittany Lions left for the Peach Bowl to say it would not be his final game in blue and white. The Virginia native is coming back to State College for another collegiate season in 2024.

Warren led the Lions in touchdowns with seven during the 2023 season. Over the last few years, he has been used as a versatile tight end who can block and catch, a trick play passer, and a key member of the program’s short-yardage ‘T’ formation, among other things. What he has not been, yet, is the leading tight end at Penn State. But, with Theo Johnson off to the NFL, that should change in 2024. It was not an end-all, be-all part of his final decision. But, it certainly could not have hurt his pros and cons list.

“I think there’s a lot of a lot of different things,” Warren said in late December. “I’m very excited about it. And, excited to get back. But I still think, right now I’m focused on the Peach Bowl. There’s a lot to accomplish with this team. So I think right now, that’s really where my main focus is. But I’m definitely excited about it. There’s a lot of things that went into it.”

In 2022, Warren was the oft-used third tight end behind Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson. In 2023, he and Johnson often were on the field together. Warren finished the regular season with 627 snaps to Johnson’s 617.

Penn State will have Warren lead its tight ends room in 2024

Warren will lead a Penn State tight end room next season that is also set to feature returner Khalil Dinkins, third year Lion Jerry Cross, second-year talents Andrew Rappleyea and Joey Schlaffer, and four-star Class of 2024 signee Luke Reynolds. Dinkins was used extensively as the third tight end in the Peach Bowl. He figures to slot into the No. 2 role Warren vacates.But, Rappleyea saw playing time as a true freshman despite preserving a year of eligibility. There has been buzz about the Massachusetts native ever since he arrived on campus as a former four-star recruit last August. And, it has not gone away in the six months between then and now. Schlaffer still needs time to add weight but could find a role next fall. The same goes for Cross.

Reynolds, then, is the wildcard of the bunch. On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power has long admired his fluid route running and has called him “the type of tight end the modern NFL gravitates too.” Don’t be surprised if first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki finds a way to get him involved if the freshman can hold up against Big Ten defenders from a blocking perspective. Reynolds is the nation’s No. 49 overall player and No. 3 tight end in the On3 Industry Rankings for the Class of 2024. 

“We’ve done a really good job of recruiting and developing the tight ends room,” Lions coach James Franklin said. “I think Tyler really helps us. Because, there’s some guys behind him we think are really talented. But, it sure is nice to have a veteran back while those guys are gaining some experience. So you know, a real positive for us in the [Peach Bowl] and a real positive for us moving into the [2024] season.”

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The move is a real positive for Warren too, of course. He does not yet have the NFL Draft profile Johnson does. But, he has the talent to reach that level or even exceed it by this time next year.

“Obviously him and Theo both had some decisions to make,” Franklin said. “Theo made his decision, and we’re very, very supportive of that. And, Tyler made his, and obviously we’re supportive and excited about that. Now, we have a responsibility for all these guys, just like we did with Olu [Fashanu], to make sure that we do everything in our power, that it was the right decision. And again, healthy discussions with both Tyler, Tyler’s mom and dad, Coach [Ty] Howle, myself, [strength coach] Chuck Losey of what that would look like.

“And we’ve been fortunate, [General Manager of Personnel and Recruitment] Andy Frank does a really good job, him and Chuck Losey, working with all the NFL scouts and GMs and getting really good feedback about where guys are at. But, the other thing is, not where you’re being anticipated or predicted of being drafted, what are your strengths? And then what are your weaknesses? And if a guy decides to come back, how do we attack those weaknesses over the next seven months so that they’re in a much better position next year, and so are we as an organization.”

Peach Bowl performance is an indicator for the future

Warren springboarded into the 2024 season with a massive Peach Bowl performance. He led the Lions with five catches for 127 yards and finished the year with 34 receptions for 422 yards and the seven scores. It was the latest sign that he is ready to lead the Penn State tight end room in 2024 and take his career, and NFL Draft profile, to new heights.

“Obviously excited to have him back, not just because of his talent and all those things, but from a leadership standpoint, a guy that’s played a lot of football for us,” Lions tight ends coach Ty Howle said. “As far as going through the process, just trying to help guide him and help him make the best decision for himself because, at the end of the day, it’s his decision. You want him to be happy whichever way it went. So that was the big key for me in helping him. ‘Look, man, here’s the pros, here’s the cons, all the different scenarios.’ Obviously super happy that he’s back, not just from a football standpoint, but from getting to be around him for another year and coach him. He’s a pleasure to coach and great kid and works his tail off.”