Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1533674
2 6 A P R I L 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 stuff. And a big thing that's helped me and my weight gain is drinking a lot of water. Hydration is very important." Like most second-year players, Reyn- olds wishes he'd gotten more opportuni- ties in Year 1. But it's no secret why that didn't happen: The Lions simply couldn't afford to keep Warren off the field. "Obviously, wish I had more chances, but I was just working with what I got," Reynolds said. "My mindset throughout that season was just to do my job, know- ing Tyler was that guy. He's a terrific player. Just going in there and making sure that I'm crossing the T's, dotting the I's, being consistent, all that kind of stuff. "I'm obviously hungry, but we've got a lot of aspirations for the season, a lot of goals for the season, and that doesn't happen without getting better each day. … Keep adding weight, being a leader in the room, just being aggressive, attacking everything aggressively." No Guarantees Reynolds is not the only underclassman tight end taking that approach. Redshirt sophomore Andrew Rappleyea is working his way back from an injury that cost him nearly the entire 2024 season. If Rapple- yea had been available, it's likely Reynolds would have redshirted. If he's back to full health, it'll be hard for Penn State to keep him off the field. The Lions also return redshirt sopho- more Joey Schlaffer and have welcomed 2025 signees Andrew Olesh of Center Valley, Pa., and Brian Kortovich of Wil- loughby, Ohio. Matt Henderson of Pow- hatan, Va., arrives this summer to round out the trio of newcomers. Of the three freshmen, Olesh has the most play-early potential. An On3 five- star recruit and the top tight end in the 2025 class, he caught 75 passes for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior at Southern Lehigh in addition to totaling 166 rushing yards. Losey said Olesh has added 17 pounds since arriving in January. That would put him at about 227 pounds, given that he weighed in at 210 in December when he signed. "He's already an exceptional mover," Losey said. "He's got great ball skills. We've just got to continue to develop size and strength with him." That imperative extends beyond Olesh and his freshman peers, of course. It's a goal for everyone in Howle's room, and it will play a role in determining who suc- ceeds Warren as the Nittany Lions' top tight end. There is no guarantee that Kotelnicki will decide to feature the tight ends the way he did a year ago, but at minimum, the players at this position group will have a big role in the offense, both in the run and pass games. With so much competi- tion, there's little doubt that Howle's tight ends are in position to reload rather than rebuild in 2025, even if there is no clear- cut successor to Warren. "Every year is a new year, so that's why I'm trying to get better in the offseason, showcasing my talent to Coach K, show- ing my versatility," Reynolds said. "At the end of the day, it's his decision. He could call a completely different offense going into the season, but I just want to let him know that I'm available." ■ Luke Reynolds saw action in all 16 games as a true freshman, finishing with 9 catches for 111 yards. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS