Why Penn State's tight ends will be the best in the Big Ten in 2025

The landscape of college football is constantly shifting, but one constant for championship contenders is often a dominant tight end room. For Penn State, heading into the 2025 season, the Nittany Lions aren't just poised to have a strong group; they are on track to boast the most formidable collection of tight ends in the entire Big Ten conference. This isn't merely optimistic forecasting; it's a projection built on a foundation of returning talent, burgeoning potential, and a strategic offensive philosophy that increasingly leverages the versatility of the position.

At the heart of this projected dominance is Khalil Dinkins, whose trajectory suggests he will be a prime candidate for All-Big Ten honors by 2025. Dinkins, a dynamic athlete with a rare blend of size, speed, and evolving route-running prowess, has steadily honed his craft within the Penn State system. His ability to stretch the seam, win contested catches in traffic, and transition into a capable blocker has made him an increasingly vital component of the Nittany Lion offense. By 2025, with multiple seasons of high-level collegiate experience under his belt, Dinkins is expected to be a complete tight end, capable of creating mismatches against linebackers and defensive backs alike, becoming a true security blanket for the quarterback and a consistent red-zone threat. His leadership and on-field maturity will be pivotal in elevating the entire unit.

However, what truly elevates Penn State's tight end corps beyond just Dinkins is the sheer depth and complementary skill sets surrounding him. The Nittany Lions' recruiting efforts have consistently prioritized the position, bringing in a pipeline of talent that will be fully matured by 2025. Players like Jerry Cross, known for his impressive receiving radius and athleticism, and Joey Schlaffer, a polished route-runner with sticky hands, will be entering their fourth or fifth years in the program, offering invaluable experience and diverse skill sets. Furthermore, emerging talents such as Andrew Rappleyea and potentially other underclassmen who will have redshirted or seen limited action will be ready to contribute significantly. This creates a scenario where Penn State can deploy multiple tight end sets – 12 personnel or even 13 personnel – without any drop-off in talent or versatility, forcing defensive coordinators to make difficult choices.

The strategic implications of such a loaded tight end room are profound for the Penn State offense. This depth allows for continuous rotation, keeping players fresh and maximizing their impact in both the run and pass game. In the running attack, multiple strong blocking tight ends provide extra gaps and create lanes for Penn State's stable of talented running backs, making their formidable ground game even more potent. In the passing game, the ability to split out athletic tight ends creates vertical threats and opens up the middle of the field. This versatility makes the offense less predictable, enabling play-callers to adapt to defensive schemes with ease. Whether it's a play-action shot downfield, a quick out to move the chains, or a crucial red-zone fade, Penn State's tight ends will offer an array of solutions, making them a nightmare matchup for Big Ten defenses and a cornerstone of the Nittany Lions' championship aspirations.