Penn State Sports Magazine
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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T yler Warren considered the ques- tion for a moment. The senior tight end had sparked Penn State's of- fense in a 49-10 romp at Purdue on Nov. 16, and he was asked afterward what he considers to be his best attribute as a player. Displaying his customary humility, Warren struggled to answer the ques- tion. "I don't know," he said. "I guess I just try to be the best tight end I can be." Against the Boilermakers, he suc- ceeded in that effort. Accordingly, his "best attribute" options were plenti- ful. He had scored 2 touchdowns in the blowout win. It marked his first time as a Nittany Lion with both a receiving and a rushing touchdown. As a receiver, he had a 15-yard score midway through the first quarter, one of 8 catches on the day for 127 yards. Ex- cluding his touchdown, 5 of his 7 other receptions went for first downs. And 5 of his catches were explosive plays, go- ing for at least 15 yards. As a ball carrier, Warren's impact was similarly significant. He had 3 attempts for 63 yards, including a third-quarter carry on which he ran 48 yards un- touched through the heart of Purdue's defense into the end zone of Ross-Ade Stadium. By that point in the game, the Nittany Lions owned a 28-3 advantage. As a re- sult, by the conclusion of the following possession, Warren and many of his of- fensive teammates were pulled in favor of their backups late in the third quarter. On the field for 37 total snaps, his lowest count of the season, Warren touched the football 11 times. He pro- duced 190 of the Nittany Lions' 539 yards of offense, accounting for more than a quarter of their points scored. Warren's legitimacy as one of the best players in college football has been coming into focus in recent weeks. Along the way, head coach James Frank- lin's quiet advocacy for Warren's place in the debates about prestigious post- season awards has turned into table- pounding demands. "I stated it earlier in the year. I stated it tonight. I think Tyler Warren should be a part of all the conversations that deal with the best player in college football," Franklin said after the Purdue game. "I don't think it's a question. And that's all of those types of awards, in- cluding the Heisman." Those situations will sort themselves out in the coming weeks. Heading into Penn State's road finale at Minnesota on Nov. 23, Warren had two more regular- season opportunities to add to a tally that has grown beyond even Franklin's most optimistic projections. Having planned around Warren's unique abilities for months with of- fensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, the Lions don't view his wide-ranging impact as a surprise. Rather, having demonstrated a versatility that includes throwing passes, motioning, blocking and taking direct snaps, on top of his substantial abilities as a rusher and re- ceiver, Warren has become a complete, impossible-to-defend package. "All of these things that he can do make him valuable," Franklin said. "All these little things that you could do with him, it's a headache. "Did I predict us using him in this way? Yes. This level of success? I don't know if I would necessarily say that. I thought he'd have a good year. I think he's having one of the more special years that I can remember in my 30 years [as a coach], specifically at that position. I think he's gotten to the point where this conversation exceeds just the position." Through 10 games, Warren's 67 catches for 808 yards and 5 touchdowns were leading the team in all three re- ceiving categories. Effectively Penn State's third running back following an injury to redshirt freshman Cam Wallace, Warren also has 16 carries for 157 yards and 4 touchdowns. With his 2 pass completions for 26 yards and a score, he has impacted every part of the Nittany Lion offense. With those numbers, Warren has established himself as one of the pro- gram's greats statistically. But, given the Nittany Lions' aspirations this season, the reality is considerably weightier. They are determined to reach the ex- panded, 12-team College Football Playoff this year, and Warren's contri- butions have helped camouflage the of- fense's other flaws. "I feel like you do a lot of things as a tight end," he said. "That's how we look at it — being able to fill a lot of different holes within our offense. That's what we focus on and what I've tried to focus on as a tight end." Exceeding any reasonable inter- pretation of that goal for the position, Warren's performance no longer neces- sitates positional classification. He's a winner by any measure, and Penn State can point to his contributions as its catalyst for success. ■ With 808 receiving yards through 10 games, Warren is Penn State's leading pass catcher by a wide margin this season. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL O P I N I O N NATE BAUER NATE.BAUER@ON3.COM HOT READ Tyler Warren's Versatility Elevates The PSU Offense