James Franklin: Expect a ‘decent amount’ of Penn State football freshman TE

The Penn State football team has dealt with various questions at wide receiver since the 2023 season. But at tight end, the Nittany Lions have been reliable and have produced pro-level talent year in and year out. While Tyler Warren looks to be the next NFL prospect for Penn State, both Andrew Rappleyea and Luke Reynolds are expected to be the future of the room. Both players were highlighted by James Franklin after practice on Wednesday night and are expected to contribute against West Virginia on Saturday.

James Franklin and his coaching staff are forced to replace the production of now New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson this fall. While Tyler Warren will fill that void, Penn State typically runs multiple tight end sets. Following practice on Wednesday night Franklin set the expectations for Andrew Rappleyea and Luke Reynolds.

“Yeah, I think you’ll see a ton of [Andrew] Rappleyea,” Franklin said. “I also think you will see a decent amount of Luke [Reynolds] in this first game. I think Rap, as you guys know, there’s been excitement about him since last year. He just continues to develop and get better.”

Rappleyea was a member of the 2023 recruiting class, where he held a four-star ranking and was listed as the No. 2 tight end in the country. Whereas Reynolds was a member of the 2024 recruiting class. A five-star recruit according to 247Sports, Reynolds was ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the country. Now, both players will get a chance to showcase their skills against West Virginia on Saturday.

Tyler Warren guiding the youth

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

It’s all about passing down life lessons from one cycle to the next. Tyler Warren is now the veteran of the group and looks to be a main option for Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions this fall. In terms of preparing Rappleyea and Reynolds, Warren has blended a helping hand.

“I think Tyler [Warren’s] include on all of those guys has been really good. Luke has come in, exactly what you want, and has pushed those guys too. So, he’s a mature guy and he’ll have a role in this game one too.”

The Nittany Lions are now counting down the days for the road trip to Morgantown to take on West Virginia. While making sure that the Penn State football tight ends aka the ‘Aces” are involved in the gameplan.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned, community-operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.