Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532761
2 2 M A R C H 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 5 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / P art of the fun of any recruiting cycle, especially late in the year, is listening to coaches talk about their most coveted prospects without talking about their most coveted pros- pects. As everyone knows, coaches are not allowed to publicly discuss specific re- cruits until they sign. It's college foot- ball's Prime Directive, a rule so deeply ingrained that it's almost never broken. It is possible to walk right up to the line, though, and coaches will do so if someone they desperately want is on the fence. At a press conference preview- ing Penn State's visit to Minnesota in late November, James Franklin offered a master class in how to encode a targeted message in a public comment. Tight end Tyler Warren was in the midst of an All-America season, adding his name to the lineage of NFL-caliber tight ends who had passed through Penn State's program during Franklin's tenure. With Warren breaking records, the coach was asked about assistant Ty Howle's role in developing elite prospects at his position group. Franklin rhapsodized about Howle for a while, noting that the former PSU offensive lineman had el- evated the room to "a whole other level." Then he kept going. "If you're a great tight end in the coun- try and specifically in the state of Penn- sylvania, I don't know how you couldn't come here," Franklin said. "There's just Five-star prospect Andrew Olesh will be joining a long line of talented tight ends at Penn State. The Lions have had five tight ends drafted during the James Franklin coaching era, and Tyler Warren is set to become the sixth in April. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS Peak Peak Performers Performers A group of talented freshmen look to maximize their potential with the Nittany Lions M AT T H E R B | M AT T. H E R B @ O N 3 . C O M