Penn State coach James Franklin said Khalil Dinkins is in the discussion for “most complete tight end in the country.”
He’s right about that.
There is something to admire about what tight ends coach Ty Howle has achieved in his four seasons at Penn State.
Many around Nittany Nation love to boast that Penn State is the new “Tight End U” with the successful tight ends that have made the NFL.
Howle has successfully managed to have a rotation of tight ends that all have made the NFL: Brenton Strange, Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren.
The next in line to have that final season breakout is redshirt senior Khalil Dinkins.
Dinkins has gotten all the right endorsements that should indicate his breakthrough.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic wrote in his annual freaks list, where Dinkins was No. 71 overall, of how offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki found ways to get the ball to dynamic athletes.
”At 6-4, 255 pounds, Dinkins ran a 4.50 40 (a school record for Penn State tight ends) and hit 21.8 mph,” Feldman wrote. “He broad jumped 10-0, clocked 4.30 in the shuttle, bench pressed 405 pounds, power cleaned 355 and squatted 550.”
Last week against Nevada, Dinkins had one passing target, a far cry from the volume Warren received a season ago.
It is natural for Penn State fans to make the comparison to Warren, but Dinkins isn’t in the same situation as Warren was.
Penn State made significant strides luring in the transfer portal Trebor Pena (Syracuse), Kyron Hudson (USC), and Devonte Ross (Troy), complementing them with extremely talented youth in Tyseer Denmark, Lyrick Samuel, and Koby Howard.
A season ago, Warren had five or more targets in 14 of 16 games with his fewest being three against West Virginia in Week 1.
The emphasis against Nevada was getting in-game chemistry developed between quarterback Drew Allar and the new wide receivers, which was successful with Allar completing 22 of 26 passes, including 16 to wide receivers – the most for Penn State since the 2023 Maryland game.
Franklin even admitted following the Nevada game, that once they were comfortable with the chemistry with Allar and the wide receivers, it was trying to get key athletes touches, including Dinkins.
“We would like to get more guys involved. We left some guys late in the game that last drive, trying to get a couple guys touches. We did that with Khalil Dinkins, and then as soon as he got the touch, we got him out of the game,” Franklin said.
I can’t blame Franklin or the offensive staff for wanting to emphasize developing chemistry with the wide receivers after the Orange Bowl performance.
I also won’t criticize Franklin or Kotelnicki for not emphasizing Dinkins either, Warren also did start slow a season ago before going onto the best offensive season a Penn State pass receiver ever had.
As well, both Franklin or Kotelnicki faced tougher questions about the wide receivers, especially after the departure of KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The talent in the room wasn’t there and Warren was able to make a huge impact being Allar’s top target.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Franklin also had the same compliments of Dinkins.
“I think you could make the argument Khalil [Dinkins] is the most complete tight end in the country in my opinion. And I’m biased; I get that.”
Dinkins also has peer respect.
“Khalil Dinkins is the best tight end that I’ve ever seen in the run game,” offensive lineman Nick Dawkins said at Big Ten Media Days back in July. “He is the best. This man blocks his tail off. He’s like an extra tackle out there. And what he does [in the pass game], I mean, you saw the touchdowns he had last year before. He’s just a sneaky guy, man. He just gets in there. He gets in all like the little, sneaky crevices you don’t think you see, and all that. He’s just an elite player. I’m so excited for Khalil Dinkins this year.”
Khalil Dinkins hauls in his first touchdown reception of the year.
PFF College viewed Dinkins performance favorably against Nevada, grading Dinkins 68.7 pass block grade and 67.5 run block grade.
In comparison Warren received a 57.7 pass block grade and 52.8 run block grade.
You could say Dawkins was onto something echoing similar sentiments Franklin had for Warren at 2024 Big Ten Media Days.
Dinkins has internal competition as former five-star Luke Reynolds looks to take the next step in his development and Andrew Rappleyea looks healthy where it will split targets amongst the group.
The impact of Dinkins will come in quality over quantity.
Warren was special and he caught 77% of his targets last year (104 of 135), Dinkins can either go one of two ways, he may have a lower percentage due to the lack of targets despite that lower percentage ratioed out to the volume Warren accomplished it may be in an elite tier.
If Dinkins has a comparable percentage and continues being a better blocker in the pass and run game while setting the edge, that impact is huge on a team vying for its first national championship since 1986.
That play will make so many players better around Dinkins, that is what his impact will be on this team. You will never be able to compare the volume of Warren, but I am willing to bet when this season is over when the highlight reels are done, Dinkins will be attributed with a lot of the reasons so many had success this year.
