Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1340947
WHAT
HE DID
Dinkins was a four-year
letterman at North Allegheny and a team
captain as a senior. He totaled 413 receiv-
ing yards and six touchdowns this past
fall, helping lead the Tigers to a 10-0
record. During his four varsity seasons,
North Allegheny went 36-3. Attesting to
his athletic versatility, Dinkins also ex-
celled in basketball, earning notice as a
WPIAL Class 6A Player to Watch from
the Trib High School Sports Network.
WHAT HE WON Dinkins was a three-star
prospect according to Rivals.com, as well
as the No. 24 prospect in Pennsylvania.
He won Class 6A All-Conference honors
following his junior and senior seasons
and was named to the Pittsburgh Post-
Gazette's Fabulous 22 team.
WHERE HE VISITED The son of Darnell
Dinkins, a former Pitt standout and
nine-year NFL veteran, Dinkins earned
18 scholarship offers, including one from
his father's alma mater. He received his
offer from Penn State in February 2020
and eventually narrowed his list down to
the Nittany Lions and Pitt. In late Octo-
ber, Dinkins announced that he would
sign with Penn State. While he could
potentially contribute at a variety of po-
sitions, the Lions recruited him as a tight
end.
QUOTABLE North Allegheny coach Art
Walker: "Khalil Dinkins may be the most
versatile football player I have ever
coached. He's a big, athletic, fast and
physical athlete who has great ball skills
and is very aggressive. He's also a great
young man with a passion to compete and
lead, all while maintaining a sincere love
of his teammates. He has a very bright fu-
ture as a student-athlete at Penn State."
PHIL'S TAKE Dinkins' 2020 highlight
video shows you that he is capable of
playing three or four positions. He'll be a
tight end at Penn State, but he also played
wide receiver, defensive end and outside
linebacker at North Allegheny. At 6-foot-
4, Dinkins could add 20 to 30 pounds to
his 221-pound frame without losing any of
his speed. He runs precise routes and does
an excellent job of getting o: the line of
scrimmage against press coverage. I could
envision him playing either the 9ex or tra-
ditional tight end position in a two-TE of-
fensive set. He's very physical and appears
capable of being a solid blocker at the col-
lege level. Penn State's coaching sta: has
likened him to Brenton Strange, and his
highlight video makes that comparison
clear. He's a very gi