Tyler Warren Leads Deep Tight End Room at Penn State

© Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

As  the No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0) continue to figure out who will step up at the wide receiver position to be a bonafide No. 1, there is no denying among the tight ends who is leading Penn State—senior tight end Tyler Warren. Warren set a single game Penn State record for receiving yards by a tight end against Bowling Green finishing with 146 yards on 8 receptions. 

Warren Receives High Praise

Penn State’s tight end tradition dates back to the 1960s when Ted Kwalick was the Rob Gronkowski in a different era. Kwalick was a two-time All-American, earning consensus honors in 1968 and set virtually every Penn State record at the tight end position. Kwalick received the highest of praises from Joe Paterno.

"He's what God had in mind when he made a football player," Paterno said of Kwalick.

Kwalick’s play is immortalized as the Big Ten Conference's Tight End of the Year Award, an honor Kwalick shares with former Iowa Hawkeye Dallas Clark.

Throughout the Paterno era, tight ends became a staple in the Penn State offense with guys like Mickey Shuler, Brian Siverling, Troy Drayton and Kyle Brady carrying the torch. As the tight end position started to evolve in the 1990s and 2000s, Penn State was no longer on the cutting edge at the position.

When Penn State was able to lure New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien to Happy Valley, he brought with him the emphasis of two tight end sets and exceptional tight end play.

Because of O’Brien’s use of Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in New England, and with all the turmoil of the Jerry Sandusky fallout, keeping Adam Breneman and Kyle Carter in the mix were major coups for O’Brien and ushered in another golden era of tight ends at Penn State.

When James Franklin replaced O’Brien in 2014, Franklin maintained the same high level talent at the tight end position. Since Franklin’s takeover, the tight end room has consistently sent high end tight end talent to the NFL with the likes of Jesse James, Mike Gesicki, Pat Friermuth, Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson. 

© Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Warren Is the Best Tight End in the Nation

Penn State’s tight end room is especially close, whether you are current or former, and current Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Friermuth talked about his relationship with Warren at an event in Robinson Township, Pa., “I talk to him probably every week, once or twice a week. He leans on me for advice.”

Friermuth then lauded Warren’s play so far in 2024 and then gave a ringing endorsement on where Warren is nationally among tight ends.

“He’s a great tight end, and I definitely think he’s the best tight end in college football," Friermuth said. "I think just his game is going to translate really well to the NFL. He can do all aspects of what he’s being asked to do. So I for sure expect more things from him this year.”

Back in August, Franklin recognized Warren’s efforts, echoing similar sentiments to Friermuth’s recent comments.

"I think he’s the most complete tight end in the country in terms of he truly is a weapon in the run game as a blocker, he truly is a weapon on third down in the passing game,” he said. 

Warren Recognizes Fantastic Freshman Effort

As Warren will be finishing his Penn State career this year, the future of the tight end room is bright. Many expected redshirt freshman Andrew Rappleyea to take that next big step. Many of the offensive coaches were referring to Rappleyea as “Baby Gronk,” but an injury that has Rapplyea out for the long term has opened the door for true freshman Luke Reynolds to make an impact. 

Reynolds was rated by 247Sports as their No. 1 overall tight end prospect in the Class of 2024. With Rappleyea’s injury, it has thrusted Reynolds into action where he has seen the second most snaps against Bowling Green—second only to Warren. 

During Monday’s press conference,  Franklin gave way to burning Reynolds’ redshirt.

“Luke has been transitioned to a green light at this stage," Franklin said. "Again, these greens, reds and yellows can change as things go."

“I think his mental approach, his maturity that he’s coming with at his young age is really impressive, and I think that’s kind of his biggest thing," Warren said of Reynolds during Penn State's media availability this week. "Obviously, he’s a very good tight end already for a young guy. He can keep getting better, but he can make plays in the pass game, he has the ability and the mentality for the run game, so he’s going to do a lot for us this year. I know he’s going to be great down the road as a tight end as well.”

Much like how Friermuth has seen excellence in Warren thus far this season, Warren said he realized Reynolds was advanced for his age when he first arrived on campus over the winter.

“He came in very far ahead than most tight ends I’ve seen come in as freshmen, including me,” Warren said.

What does Warren think Reynolds needs to work on as he continues to develop at tight end?

“I think the biggest thing now for his role is having to step into games like this at that young age without a lot of experience can be kind of mentally hard on a young kid like that,” Warren said. “So just, really, for me, trying to help him stay level-headed and not get too low or too high on the good or the bad stuff, I think is important for him. He’s a great player and I can obviously help him a lot just with teaching him things like that. But I think the most important thing for him right now is being able to go out there and be calm and execute when his number is called. So I think that’s kind of the biggest thing I’ve tried to focus on him with.”

Reynolds looks like the new face of the Penn State tight end tradition, with a mentor like Warren and a complete game package he will try to emulate, things aren’t slowing down any time soon for tight ends in Happy Valley.