Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 51 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / T I G H T E N D S / / / / / / / jam in the middle of the field, plucked a tipped ball out of midair with one hand, and dashed 75 yards to set up a second- quarter touchdown. The real payoff, though, is going to come this fall when the fifth-year senior resumes his collaboration with posi- tion coach Ty Howle and a tight end group that is loaded with young talent. To Warren, those relationships were what kept pulling him back even with the NFL beckoning. "I think it really just comes down to my teammates and how much this pro- gram means to me," he said. "I came back for this program and the coaching staff and Coach Howle. "I think just being the best tight end that I can be, being the best teammate, and letting everything else take care of itself [are most important]. I'm really just focused on this team and making sure we're as good an offense as we can be and then the best team we can be when it comes to the season." Steady Improvement Warren enjoyed his best season in 2023, finishing with 34 receptions for 422 yards and 7 touchdowns, all career- highs. The 6-foot-6, 257-pounder from Mechanicsville, Va., also improved his blocking. He compiled a run-blocking grade of 75.6 from Pro Football Focus, a nearly 20-point improvement over his grade from the previous year on more than double the number of snaps (332 versus 136). Warren's receiving prowess was a crucial part of Penn State's passing game last year. With their wide receivers struggling, the Nittany Lions frequently used 12-personnel alignments — one running back, two tight ends — in order to supply quarterback Drew Allar with targets while the receivers were work- ing to develop consistency. The Lions opened most games with two tight ends on the field. Warren started 12 games, while Theo Johnson started 13, and to- gether they accounted for 26 percent of PSU's 246 catches. Johnson has since departed, having been drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round this past April. His exit thrusts Warren into a leadership role on the offense. He's got an experienced wingman in Khalil Dinkins, a redshirt junior who has seen action in 22 games the past two years, but four of the Lions' remaining five tight ends hold freshman eligibility. Although Warren opted to return to Penn State this year, he did request an evaluation of his draft-worthiness. Coach James Franklin said that for play- ers who opt to remain in college, those reports typically prove useful in helping target specific areas where improve- ment is needed. He expects that to be the case for Warren. "Ty is a very well-rounded player — in the run game, in the pass game, on special teams, he's played a little wildcat quarterback in the past, he's done a ton of different things," Franklin said. "It's just [a matter of] continuing to improve. "In the feedback we get from the NFL clubs, when we're giving them their draft grades and where they're at, we also get strengths and weaknesses. It's valuable information for us and for the player to see what the NFL teams think, what their opinions are of their weak- nesses and then really come up with a plan to attack those things all offseason. "I think he's got a chance to be a big- time player for us this year. And obvi- ously, it's our job to help him help him- self, and help our team." Vocal Leadership In addition to Warren's on-field con- tributions, Penn State's coaching staff is looking for him to provide leadership. During the offseason, Franklin cited the veteran tight end along with junior safety Kevin Winston Jr. as players who had earned their teammates' respect on the field and had an opportunity to set a standard. "One of the things we've been talking about this offseason is that guys have to be willing to step outside of their com- fort zone and be vocal leaders," Frank- lin said. "With this generation, I think most guys want to be leaders through example and don't necessarily want to speak up and challenge and necessarily call out teammates from time to time. "I've even talked about them being comfortable enough to walk into my of- fice and have honest conversations with me. I want more of that. I want that type of feedback. I think it's really important. "They're two examples of many who need to take the next step. I think they're universally respected by the players and the coaching staff." Warren was a quarterback at Atlee High before switching to tight end at Penn State. The leadership skills are in there waiting to be tapped, but he ad- mitted that speaking up doesn't come naturally to him. "It's something I've tried to work on," Warren said. "I have [worked on it] this spring and through the summer, just trying to be more of a vocal guy. I'm more of a quiet, lead-by-example guy, but I think stepping out of my comfort zone is important." As for Warren's on-field effort this fall, that will likely speak for itself. Teammates and coaches have been watching him in action for years, and even those who haven't been around the program very long were impressed with what they saw this winter and spring. When Justin Lustig, Penn State's first- year special teams coordinator and out- side linebackers coach, was asked this spring to name the players who were giving the defense the most trouble in practice, Warren was the first name that came to mind. "Obviously, Ty Howle has done a great job with him," Lustig said. "He's a difference-maker." ■ "I think it really just comes down to my teammates and how much this program means to me. I came back for this program and the coaching staff and Coach Howle." W A R R E N