Penn State's James Franklin makes open plea to in-state four-star tight end

Penn State head coach James Franklin took to the podium on Monday afternoon and found an opportunity to make a not-so-subtle recruiting pitch to one of his top targets in the Class of 2025. While fielding a question about tight ends coach Ty Howle’s and his work with Mackey Award frontrunner Tyler Warren and the rest of the room, Franklin started with the success that the Nittany Lions have had at the position over much of his tenure.

Mike Gesicki was the second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2018. Pat Freiermuth was up next to the Steelers in the second round of the 2021 draft, followed by Brenton Strange in the second round in 2023. Theo Johnson is starting for the Giants as a fourth-round rookie this year. Warren seems primed to leapfrog the group and land in the first round next spring. 

“I don’t think it’s talked about enough,” Franklin began. “There’s no school in the country, there’s no program in the country that is doing what we are doing with tight ends right now and really over the last 10 years. Ty Howle has come into that position as a Penn State Letterman, and I think, has taken it to a whole other level. We’re recruiting the best tight ends in the country. We’re developing the best tight ends in the country. It’s a competitive room, you’ve got to embrace that.

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“And then you just look at what’s happening after they get done playing at Penn State. They’re all getting their degrees, and then they’re all getting drafted, and the majority of them are getting drafted very high. 

“You look at the Tyler Warren situation. Tyler Warren had a pretty high draft grade last year, came back, and I think it’s been a win-win. I think he’s going to be the first tight end drafted. [He’s] having a great year, he’s having a ton of fun with his with his teammates, and that’s what you want, right? You want it to be a great situation for everybody.”

Franklin makes his pitch to Top100 prospect

But he did not stop there. Next, Franklin shifted gears to talk about the future of the position.  

“If you’re a great tight end in the country, and specifically in the state of Pennsylvania, I don’t know how you couldn’t come here,” he continued. “Like, there’s just too much history, there’s too much data, and there’s too many things saying that you don’t need to go anywhere else. You can stay home and get everything you want in terms of your college career and also setting yourself up for your future.”

Franklin smiled and thanked the reporter for the opportunity for the soap box.

Penn State has a tight end committed in the Class of 2025 in Virginia four-star Matt Henderson. The Nittany Lions, however, missed on in-state Top 100 tight end Andrew Olesh earlier this year. The No. 43 overall prospect and No. 2 tight end in the updated On300 that was released on Monday, Olesh picked Michigan over Alabama, Florida, Oregon and, of course, Penn State, back in July.

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Olesh isn’t a done deal to end up in Ann Arbor, though. He visited Penn State in early November for the Ohio State game and has since taken an official visit Notre Dame. He plans to visit Oregon at the end of the month as well. Penn State remains squarely in the mix with Olesh, who has remained in touch with Franklin and Howle throughout the fall. 

“He’s developed tight ends his entire career being there,” Olesh said of Howle. “He spent some extra time with me and my family and friends after the game explaining what Coach Franklin was saying. They want me, there are other guys looking at Penn State that want to come to Penn State but they’re holding off for me. That’s great for me.”

Franklin continues to push Penn State’s tight end success

This wasn’t the first time that Franklin made a pitch like this to Olesh. Following the Nittany Lions’ win over Kent State back in September, Franklin made similar comments in the wake of a strong performance by Warren.

“He’s the best tight end in college football,” Franklin stated matter-of-factly. “These awards people, they give it to yards. He ain’t a wideout, he’s a tight end. It’s blocking, it’s receiving, it’s bringing value to the organization. He’s the most valuable tight end in college football. He’s everything we’re about at Penn State. I’m a huge fan of his. I couldn’t be more proud. I’m glad he’s having this type of success.

“If you’re a tight end out there in the United States, or specifically in Pennsylvania, I don’t know why you wouldn’t come to Penn State.”

Warren was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the second time after his performance against Purdue over the weekend. He caught eight passes for 127 yards and a score. He also rushed three times for 63 yards and a touchdown. The Virginia native led the Lions and rushing and receiving in the win.