The tight end position has been an important part of Penn State’s offense in recent years, sending multiple players to the NFL during that time. Mike Gesecki, Pat Freiermuth, Brenton Strange, and Theo Johnson have all been drafted inside the first four rounds over the last half a decade.
That trend looks to continue with senior tight end [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag]. Warren could have left for the draft last season after a dominant bowl game against Ole Miss, but he chose to return to school and make another run at a playoff appearance. He had to share the spotlight with Theo Johnson last season, but he could see his career numbers more than double this year.
With new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki in charge of the offense, he will want to prioritize getting the ball to the best players on the field, regardless of position. College tight ends are typically underutilized compared to their NFL counterparts, but Warren could be an exception this year with his ability with the ball in his hands.
44 days until college football is back.
Here’s Tyler Warren’s ridiculous catch and run in the Peach Bowl. pic.twitter.com/Z4fLnfzMXo
— Josh Yourish (@JYourish3) July 11, 2024
One of the major concerns for Penn State heading into the season is the lack of established receivers. Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming is the only receiver on the roster with anywhere close to 1,000 career yards. The lack of reliable weapons is a negative for the overall team, but Warren could benefit statistically.
Receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (now at Auburn) led the team last year with 53 receptions and 673 yards. Warren could beat those numbers this season even if Fleming or the other receivers play well. Quarterback Drew Allar will need a reliable target in high-leverage situations, and aside from Fleming nobody will compete with Warren for that role.
As talented as Warren is, predicting stats for a tight end is tricky. It’s not nearly as straightforward as it was for guys like Allar, Nick Singleton, or Kaytron Allen. I feel confident though that the passing game overall will improve under Kotelnicki, and that means a big year for Warren.
Final Stat Prediction: 55 receptions, 700 yards and 8 touchdowns