Tyler Warren is enjoying a breakout season for Penn State.
Without an elite threat at wide receiver, the senior tight end has emerged as the Nittany Lions’ leading receiver by more than 200 yards, with more than twice as many receptions as Harrison Wallace III, Penn State’s second-leading receiver.
Warren burst onto the national scene with 17 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown last month against USC, totals that make up about a third of his total production on the season. Even with two quieter games since then against Wisconsin and Ohio State, Penn State has made clear that their passing offense runs through the tight end.
That will leave a ton of pressure on the Huskies, who head coach Jedd Fisch said on Thursday “have to know [Warren is] always gonna make some plays.” Washington has the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, linebacker Carson Bruener, roaming the middle of the field and found success putting safety Kamren Fabiculanan on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland earlier this season.
Michigan is probably the most analogous offense to what the Huskies will face on Saturday, as the Wolverines also funneled things through Loveland when they came to visit Husky Stadium last month. Washington held Loveland to 6 receptions for 33 yards on 12 targets in that game, including a late-game interception by Fabiculanan that sealed the victory.
Washington will have to come with a similar gameplan on Saturday, designed to take away Warren and force Penn State’s other weapons to beat them. Steve Belichick’s defense is designed to take away an offense’s best receiver, however – as they did with Loveland and with Indiana’s leading receiver Elijah Sarratt (one catch for 13 yards) a few weeks ago.
Warren has been on a different level this year, however, and the Huskies will have to make their peace with the tight end making a few plays. Limiting, not erasing, the senior will be crucial if Washington is to come away with the upset win.
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