Tyler Warren was a revelation in his fifth and final season of eligibility at Penn State. He stepped into the role as the team’s leading tight end after splitting snaps in years prior, and quickly became arguably the nation’s best at the position. He’s now off to the pros, having been selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 14 overall pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft.
Warren joins Abdul Carter, who went No. 3 overall to the New York Giants, as the second Nittany Lion picked in the first round on Thursday night. They become the highest-drafted duo of Penn State players in the same year since Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington were selected with each of the top two picks in 2000.
Warren likely would’ve been drafted last year, but he opted to return for one more season with the Nittany Lions. And, boy, did it pay off. Warren became the Penn State single-season record holder with 104 receptions and broke the single-season tight end program record with 1,233 receiving yards. He ultimately won the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end.
He joins Theo Johnson, Brenton Strange and Pat Freiermuth as the fourth Nittany Lion tight end drafted in the past five years. He is also the highest-drafted Penn State tight end since Kyle Brady was selected with the No. 9 overall pick by the New York Jets in 1995.
Warren’s drop to the Colts came as a bit of surprise. Despite being widely projected as draft’s top tight end, Michigan’s Colston Loveland was the first at the position to go off the board, taken No. 10 by the Chicago Bears.
