Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 2021 vs. 2022: Stock Up Or Down? Everyone who played last year is back. Even though the 2021 season surely wasn't everything the tight ends wanted it to be, you'd be hard-pressed to think of a reason to downgrade their stock heading into the 2022 campaign. Coach James Franklin wants this to be a star-making position in Penn State's offense. "I think that's when we're at our best, when our tight ends are involved," he said last year. The Lions have done a good job in that regard during Franklin's tenure, as evidenced by their success at turning Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuth into second-round NFL Draft picks. This year's top three tight ends — redshirt junior Brenton Strange and third- year sophomores Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren — all look like they have next-level tools, too. But they'll have to show more consistency this fall after an uneven performance as a group in 2021. X-Factor Is Warren ready for a bigger role? The former high school quarterback found an interesting niche last year as the signal-caller on goal-line plays, scoring a couple of touchdowns on sneaks. It was a canny way of capitalizing on his un- usual skill set, and it certainly caught Auburn off-guard in the Lions' 28-20 vic- tory in September, a game in which Warren had a key third-quarter score. But at 6-6, 254 pounds, he looks to have the ability to help PSU in a more conventional tight end role. Warren finished with 5 catches for 61 yards and a touchdown last season. His score came against Michigan, so he has delivered for the Lions in big moments. More of that would be welcome. Freshman Outlook The Lions have two freshman-eligible tight ends, Jerry Cross and Khalil Dinkins. Dinkins stood 6-4, 215 pounds when he came to PSU and thought at first he might fit in better at wide receiver. The staff stationed him at tight end, and since then he's been working to add weight. He's listed at 233 pounds now, so he's making progress but is still lighter than a typical tight end. Cross, an On3 Consensus four-star prospect in the class of 2022, has pro- totypical size at 6-5, 250, but he's only been at PSU since January. He'll most likely redshirt this fall. — Matt Herb TIGHT ENDS BY THE NUMBERS 3 Number of Penn State tight ends who have been drafted during the James Franklin era. Jesse James was a fifth-round choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015, while successors Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuth both were second-round picks. Gesicki went to the Miami Dolphins in 2018, and Freier- muth was chosen by the Steelers in 2021. 3.6 Average star rating of Penn State's five scholarship tight ends, per the On3 Consensus. Brenton Strange, Theo Johnson and Jerry Cross were all four-star recruits, while Tyler Warren and Khalil Dinkins each received three-star ratings. 44 Total catches by Penn State's tight ends last year. The year before, the tight ends also posted 44 catches, but the Lions played four fewer games in 2020 and also saw starter Pat Freiermuth suffer an injury that ended his season after just four games. Tight end Brenton Strange was one of only three Penn State offensive players to make 13 starts at the same position last season. Quarterback Sean Clifford and wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith were the others. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL Scholarship Players (5) NO. PLAYER CL. HT. WT. 86 Brenton Strange R-Jr. 6-3 248 84 Theo Johnson So. 6-6 254 44 Tyler Warren So. 6-6 254 16 Khalil Dinkins R-Fr. 6-4 233 88 Jerry Cross Fr. 6-5 250 Quick Facts Position coach: Ty Howle (second season) Returning starters: Brenton Strange (18 career starts) Departing starters: None Projected new starters: None Top reserves: Khalil Dinkins, Theo Johnson, Tyler Warren Newcomer: Jerry Cross Moved in: None Moved out: None 4 8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 2