Penn State has had many terrific tight ends over the last 60 years, including four in the NFL right now.
Tyler Warren might wind up as one of the very best of them if he continues to post numbers like he has in the Nittany Lions’ first two games.
After catching eight passes for 146 yards – a school record for a tight end – against Bowling Green last week, Warren is on his way to have the most productive season by a tight end in Penn State history.
Mike Gesicki, who’s now with the Cincinnati Bengals, owns the school records with 57 receptions in 2016 and 679 receiving yards in 2017. It’s only two games, but Warren is on pace to finish the regular season with 66 catches for 880 yards.
He, of course, tried to deflect attention from himself after the 34-27 win over the Falcons.
“This game plan had some shots for the tight ends,” said Warren, who is from Mechanicsville, Va. “Plus, I was open. You saw last week (at West Virginia) with Tre (wide receiver Harrison Wallace III). He had a lot of big plays. It speaks to the skill we have on offense.
“This week it was me. Last week it was Tre. The next game could be somebody different.”
Warren, though, is as valuable as any player on offense, especially with the undisclosed injuries at his position.
Khalil Dinkins returned to action against Bowling Green after missing most of training camp. Andrew Rappleyea, who started against West Virginia, watched last week’s game while on crutches. Penn State coach James Franklin described his injury as a “long-term” one after practice Tuesday night.
Drew Allar threw his first two passes last week to the 6-6, 261-pound Warren, who had four catches of at least 20 yards.
“He’s very consistent, probably one of the most consistent guys on our team,” Allar said. “He’s obviously a big target, so that’s nice. He just finds ways to get open. He does a really good job of feeling zone or man (coverage). He’s super crafty and savvy in that aspect of his game.”
With Warren making plays and new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki calling plays, the Lions are more explosive. They’re averaging 17.6 yards per completion and 11.6 per pass attempt, compared to 11.4 and 6.8 last season.
“Coach K is creative in how he does stuff,” Warren said. “It’s a lot of the same stuff; it’s just dressed up differently, getting to it in different ways and running stuff with different people. It’s really just we’re trusting him and he’s trusting us to make the plays when our name is called.”
Warren also is an exceptional blocker. On one Nick Singleton run, he blocked one Bowling Green defender into another. On Singleton’s game-breaking 41-yard touchdown run, he sealed the left side by driving linebacker Brock Horne 5 yards across the field.
Franklin has called Warren “the most complete tight end in the country.”
“It’s rare nowadays in football where guys can control the ‘C’ gap at a high level in blocking and also get open in man-to-man coverage,” Penn State tight ends coach Ty Howle said a couple days before the season opener. “He’s one of those rare guys who’s a really good blocker. He’s physical. He understands how to run routes. He can really be a multi-tool tight end.”
Warren most likely will be the third straight Penn State tight end to be drafted, following Theo Johnson earlier this year and Brenton Strange last year. He probably will give the Lions five tight ends in the NFL, including Pat Freiermuth and Gesicki.
While at his Pro Day in March, Johnson predicted that Warren would win this year’s John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.
Whether or not that happens, Warren will continue to be a vital part of Penn State’s offense. He’s the latest in a long line of outstanding tight ends since the 1960s, beginning with Ted Kwalick.
“I didn’t know (about the single-game yardage record) till I came in here,” he said. “Just being in that conversation with how many great tight ends I’ve played with and who were here in the past is really special. I don’t take that for granted.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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