Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 5 3 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 / / / / / / / 2023 vs. 2024 Stock Up Or Down Considering how well Penn State has recruited at tight end under James Franklin, the team's stock is holding steady, even with Theo Johnson having been chosen by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Tyler Warren showed in the Peach Bowl that he's ready to step into a bigger role, catching 5 passes for 127 yards in the Nittany Lions' 38-25 loss to Ole Miss. Khalil Dinkins is back after totaling 3 touchdown grabs on just 9 career catches in his first two seasons at Penn State, and Andrew Rappleyea will be expected to push for substantial playing time at both the Y and H-back positions follow- ing a true freshman season in which the coaching staff reportedly considered forgoing his redshirt. X-Factor Will Penn State rely as heavily on "12 personnel" (one running back, two tight ends) looks this fall as it did in 2023 when Warren and Johnson both started 12 games? The answer to that question will no doubt hinge in large part on whether the Nittany Lions are finally able to develop the kind of depth at wide receiver they've been seeking the past few years. If they aren't able to do that, it wouldn't be surprising to see Warren and either Dinkins or Rappleyea in the lineup together. Freshman Outlook Rappleyea is almost certainly going have a big role in the offense as Warren's backup at the Y position and perhaps as the starter at H-back. His classmate Joey Schlaffer will be looking to get on the field for the first time, and January enrollee Luke Reynolds could also see action, though a redshirt year seems likely. PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern STARTER ★★★★ Even with Theo Johnson gone after catching 34 passes for 341 yards and 7 touchdowns, this position group should be a strength. Senior Tyler Warren appears quite ready to step in as one of Penn State's primary pass-catching threats this fall. He more than equaled Johnson's productivity, catch- ing 34 passes for 422 yards and 7 scores last year. Warren's decision to return to Penn State for his senior season was one of the better pieces of news the Nittany Lions received following the 2023 campaign. EXPERIENCE ★★★ Warren has played in 40 games and made 15 starts during the past four seasons, while redshirt junior Kahlil Dinkins has seen action in 22 games to this point in his career, play- ing on offense and special teams. There isn't much proven depth behind those two, though. Three of the Lions' six scholarship tight ends have freshman eligibility, and redshirt sophomore Jerry Cross was slowed by an injury his first year on campus. DEPTH ★★ The Lions have some promising young tight ends, but this is a position group where an injury or two could create problems. As noted above, half of the Lions' scholarship players here are freshmen, and some require more physi- cal development to fit the mold of a prototype Big Ten tight end. Redshirt freshman Joey Schlaffer is listed at 242 pounds, while true freshman Luke Reynolds checks in at 241. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ With Warren leading the way, the Nittany Lions have plenty of pass-catching potential. PSU will, however, be looking to see improvement at this position group in the blocking department. Warren received a solid run-blocking grade of 70.3 from Pro Football Focus last season but had a 45.9 grade on pass-blocking snaps. Dinkins earned block- ing grades of 50.7 on runs and 37.4 on passes. According to PFF, Penn State's best blocking tight end last year was Theo Johnson, even though he, too, received middling marks (55.9 on runs, 55.7 on passes). When you look at the success Michigan had last year, it was in part because tight ends Colston Loveland and AJ Barner were among the better blockers on the team. Penn State would love to be able to say the same in 2024. Scholarship Players (6) No. Player Yr. Ht. Wt. 88 Jerry Cross R-So. 6-5 268 16 Khalil Dinkins R-Jr. 6-4 253 87 Andrew Rappleyea R-Fr. 6-4 250 85 Luke Reynolds Fr. 6-4 241 18 Joey Schlaffer R-Fr. 6-5 242 44 Tyler Warren Sr. 6-6 257 Redshirt freshman Andrew Rappleyea turned heads in the Blue-White Game by catching a 30-yard touchdown pass in the final minute. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL