Penn State fans have come to expect excellence at the tight end position, and Gabe Burkle doesn’t have long to make an impact.
He’s on his fifth and final season of eligibility, having spent the first four with coach Matt Campbell at Iowa State.
Campbell took the Penn State job in Decemeber, and Burkle was one of 24 Iowa State players to transfer to Happy Valley.
Burkle hasn’t put up eye-popping receiving numbers in his career so far, having totaled 54 catches, 607 yards and two touchdowns.
But he blocks well, and per Campbell, he blocks better than anybody else.
“If you really study Iowa State and you study Gabe Burkle,” Campbell told Penn State beat reporters at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago last month, “that guy was the best blocking tight end in the country, the best off-the-ball tight end.”
Nittany Sports Now asked Burkle Monday in a post-practice availability how much pride he takes in that.
“Definitely, yeah, a ton of pride,” he said. “You know, it starts at the line of scrimmage. That’s just like every football game. And I feel like learning how to block has helped me propel. Just my abilities in all areas of my game.”
Although Burkle is still known mainly as a blocker, his receiving ability shouldn’t be dismissed.
His pass-catching numbers have progressed every season:
- 2023: Two catches, nine yards, no touchdowns
- 2024: 26 catches, 296 yards, one touchdown
- 2025: 26 catches, 302 yards, one touchdown (missed three games)
“I also think he became a real factor for us in the passing game,” Campbell said. “He’s a guy that’s got great hands. He’s elite at the top of the route. He can certainly be a guy that, whether it’s over the middle or vertically down the field, is a real asset.”
Burkle said there was a time when he would have just been known as a blocker, but those days are past.
“Now that I’m a pass catcher as well, it gives me some diversity,” he said. “Makes it hard for the defense to game plan and things like that, and I feel like that’s all of our tight ends. Honestly, anyone can go out there and block or run a route. So we have a great room.”
Along with Burkle, Penn State has Ben Brahmer (37 catches, 446 yards, 6 TD) transferring in from Iowa State, along with Andrew Rappleyea returning for year four at PSU.
Burkle has been limited at fall camp due to an injury that cost him the last two games of the 2025 season. Campbell said at Penn State’s local media day this month that he’s “close to being back.”
