Down 14 at halftime and on the road, escaping the Coliseum looked far-fetched for the top-five-ranked Nittany Lions. Someone, anyone, needed to step up to get Penn State back in the football game. The jolt they needed came from an unexpected source considering the headlining talent on both sides of the ball.
A senior from Mechanicsville, Virginia, Tyler Warren was nothing short of sensational against the Trojans, hauling in 17 passes (most ever in a single game for an FBS TE) for more than 220 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass on the same play he snapped the ball, and even more impressive was his impact beyond the gridiron, as Warren piloted the team plane from LAX back home to State College—a jack of all trades, if you will.
It was a historic day for the veteran flex weapon. He’s an athlete who has continued to rise on draft boards as the weeks have gone on. A longtime contributor for the Nittany Lions offense back to the days when he hid on the depth chart behind the likes of NFLers Theo Johnson and Brenton Strange, Warren has used 2024 thus far as a springboard to leapfrog other athletes in his positional pool.
“Obviously, a big story for the game was Tyler [Warren],” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “I’ve been talking about him being the best tight end in college football, But the reality is he’s now part of the conversation as one of the best players in college football.”
Whether it’s as the Y-TE aligned next to the offensive tackle or flexed out in space (F-TE), Warren’s skill set will expand an NFL playbook. And while his production remained inconsistent due to the aforementioned deep depth chart in prior years, his ability to thrive when presented the opportunity as he did Saturday afternoon—or in the bowl game last year against Ole Miss—showcases the potential of Warren and his athleticism.
In space, Warren moves extremely well at his size, showcasing quick feet and a diversified route tree. He has electric footwork at 260 pounds, can create separation quickly off the line of scrimmage, and can overpower smaller defenders while outrunning larger, more physical opponents. In space, he’s also a tough runner who is a nightmare to bring down who finishes runs by lowering his shoulder for every extra inch. He also can stick his face in the mud as a run blocker, where he looks to staple defenders to the grass.
Moving forward, the spotlight will continue to expand on Warren’s game. The focal point through the air for quarterback Drew Allar, Warren won’t have a week to relax with a trip to Wisconsin and an upcoming clash with No. 4 Ohio State in back-to-back weeks. While running back tandem Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen draw headlines, as does projected first-round pass rusher Abdul Carter, Warren’s impact at the tight end position remains as crucial to his team's ceiling, as any player, potentially on any team, in all of college football.
