To the disappointment of Penn State fans everywhere, tight end Tyler Warren will not be going to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
The finalists were announced Monday evening, and there were four of them: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty,
Miami QB Can Ward and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel.
As much as Penn State and its fan base would have loved to see Warren as part of the Heisman ceremony, itโs not a huge surprise that he isnโt a finalist.
Hunter is having one of the best two-way seasons in college football history. Jeanty (2,497 yards, 29 TD, 7.3 yards per carry) is having one of the best statistical seasons for a running back ever, and Gabriel is Americaโs best QB with Ward not far behind.
WARRENโS SEASON
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Tyler Warren
No Penn State tight end in history is doing what Warren is doing in 2024. His receiving statsโ 1,062 yards and six touchdowns on 88 receptionsโ are impressive. But Warren has also been a force at times running the ball, picking up 191 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries. Kyle Golik of MikeFarrellSports.com put it like this:
โOn the field, Warren has been used in every single facet offensively for Penn State this season from having a passing touchdown against Kent State โ which isnโt unique, but coupled by the fact Warrenโs four rushing touchdowns from the tight end position are the most by a Big Ten tight end since 1956, he leads the Power 4 amongst tight ends in total touchdowns, yards per reception, and yards per game. Warren against Southern California had 17 receptions which tied a FBS record for most receptions by a tight end in a single game. That was also Warrenโs season highlight of snapping the ball and then because he was eligible to be a receiver caught a Drew Allar touchdown pass.โ
STILL HARDWARE TO WIN
Despite not winning the Heisman, Warren still has a good chance to take home some hardware this winter. Heโs one of eight finalists for the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the nationโs best tight end, with others being Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green), Colston Loveland (Michigan), Mitchell Evans (Notre Dame), Mason Taylor(LSU), Tanner Koziol (Ball State), Gunnar Helm (Texas) and Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt).
Penn State has its first College Football Playoff game ever scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21 at noon against SMU at Beaver Stadium.
