Penn State coach Franklin believes team has depth at tight end to ease loss of Warren

STATE COLLEGE — Few saw Tyler Warren’s 2025 season coming.

Warren was outstanding in Penn State’s final game of 2023, catching 127 yards worth of passes in the Nittany Lions’ Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss.

But Warren’s 2024 numbers were almost unbelievable, which explains why the All-American was picked in the first round of the recent NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Warren impacted the PSU offense as a receiver, runner and blocker. He caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, added four rushing scores and even threw a TD pass.

How different will the 2025 tight end group be? How big of a loss is Warren?

Penn State doesn’t have a Warren on the roster. But the Lions’ tight end depth is impressive.

Veteran Khalil Dinkins is the leader of the room, second-year tight end Luke Reynolds looks like a future star and third-year Lion Andrew Rappleyea, coming off a long-term injury, is the wild card.

“So, you know, I’m a big believer, as you guys know, in true tight ends and the value that they can bring to your offense,” James Franklin said Saturday when asked about the position.

“You know, when your tight end is really a big wideout, not as valuable. When your tight end is a slug and is just a blocker and is not a receiving threat, he’s an extension of just the offensive line. That’s not overly valuable, either.

“But (position coach) Ty Howle and our staff have done a really good job of identifying, recruiting and developing true tight ends that are critical to what we want to do on offense.”

Many of Penn State’s veteran players believe the 6-4, 251-pound Dinkins, a redshirt senior, is one of the team’s most underrated players.

Dinkins has made big strides as a blocker during his career, and he caught 14 passes for 122 yards and two scores last season. Dinkins is also an efficient receiver, turning 37 career receptions into seven touchdowns.

“I don’t think enough people talk about Khalil Dinkins,” Franklin said. “He did all the dirty work last year. Every time we threw the ball to him, I think it was a touchdown, you know. That’s a little bit, you know, being a little dramatic there. But (he) caught a ton of touchdown passes. His touchdown-to-catch ratio was really good.”

“Big, strong, physical and (Dawkins’) improvement in so many areas since he stepped on campus has been dramatic. I think he’s got a very bright future. He’s going to have a great year for us, and I think he’s going to have a chance to play for a long time in the NFL.”

The healthy return of the 6-4, 251-pound Rappleyea is significant, especially considering how offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki leans on multiple tight end sets in the PSU run game.

“(Rappleyea) was in position to play a ton last year,” Franklin said, alluding to Rappleyea’s early-season injury that did have a silver lining: extended duty for the 6-4, 250-pound Reynolds, a five-star signee in Franklin’s 2024 recruiting class. Reynolds was ready to play in Year 1, too.

“So, losing (Rappleyea) was significant. But … we’ve done a really good job of recruiting and developing at that position, and Luke was ready to go and really flashed at times and did some great things. He’s bigger, stronger than he was. ‘Rapp’ is obviously hungry as heck to get back out there.

“And I think we’re going to be in a position like we have been the last couple years to have three tight ends that we feel like we can win with.”