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Penn State Football: reasons for optimism for the Nittany Lions’ trip to Auburn

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads the team onto the field before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium on September 10, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads the team onto the field before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium on September 10, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 10: Brenton Strange #86 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium on September 10, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 10: Brenton Strange #86 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium on September 10, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Penn State’s tight ends

Last year against the Auburn Tigers, Penn State’s tight ends collectively had their best game of the season. In that matchup, the trio of tight ends combined for six catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Warren also added a rushing touchdown out of the wildcat formation.

As far as pass-catching goes, this is one of the best tight end rooms in the country, and I anticipate them once again being able to have success against the Tigers.

Brenton Strange has caught three passes for 89 yards and a touchdown so far this season, and Warren has four catches for 39 yards. Theo Johnson has not suited up for either game so far, but he has been practicing this week and is expected to make his season debut on Saturday.

While this trio likely won’t take over a game, they’re a big, athletic group of tight ends that can create a lot of issues for Auburn’s defense to try to cover–especially when they also have to worry about all the talented wideouts on the outside.

Similar to last year’s Penn State-Auburn game, these tight ends can each make a few key plays that could end up being the different; perhaps some big third down conversions or touchdown grabs in the redzone.

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