There may not be a program in the country that’s been better at developing tight ends than Penn State since James Franklin took over in 2014, and Tyler Warren has cemented that. Last season, Warren became the first tight end to finish top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting since 1977, and through two weeks of his NFL career, he looks like a superstar.
While Warren punctuated Penn State’s tight end pipeline, he didn’t end it. 2024 five-star Luke Reynolds is second on the team in catches in 2025, with 2025 four-star Andrew Olesh waiting in the wings as a true freshman. The 2026 class isn’t headlined by a top-rated tight end, but the 2027 class might be if Franklin can land five-star Brock Williams.
Williams named Penn State among his top five, along with Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, and USC. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Libertyville product is ranked as the 32nd best player in the country.
Brock Williams is the No. 1 TE in the 2027 @Rivals Rankings 📈
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 16, 2025
Three schools have emerged as leaders in his recruitment
READ: https://t.co/6Zroz4wIpw pic.twitter.com/dn7EhNXUxE
Penn State is in the running for 2027 five-star TE Brock Williams
Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class ranks 16th in the country, and there is real concern that the Nittany Lions will be unable to keep pace with other national contenders on the recruiting trail in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. However, every few years, as he did in 2022, Franklin assembles an elite top-10 class, and the 2027 class, though it’s very early, is shaping up to be one of the positive outliers.
Currently, Franklin holds the No. 1 class in the country for 2027 with four commits, five-star running back Kemon Spell, four-star offensive tackle Layton Von Brandt, four-star cornerback Gabe Jenkins, and four-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor. All four are top 100 recruits nationally according to 247Sports and top 200 by 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Adding Williams to that group, especially early in the process, would be massive for the foundation of the class and likely continue to attract attention from other big-time recruits across the country. On the other hand, missing out could lead the Nittany Lions to fizzle after a hot start, which is not uncommon during the Franklin era.
Franklin and his staff typically make headway early in the recruiting process and avoid drama on signing day. Signing day 2027 is a long way off, so this is the time when Penn State typically charges out to a significant advantage on the recruiting trail before the other powerhouse programs can catch up.
As for the player, Williams is a bit slim to be an in-line tight end right now, but his frame can easily add weight over the next two years and through his collegiate career. Rather than utilizing him as a big wide receiver, Libertyville High School plays Williams as a true tight end, which will help fast-track his development as a blocker and familiarize him with the route-tree that he’ll be expected to run in college.
He makes big plays with the ball in his hands, is a ball-winner in the red zone, and has strong hands to hold on through traffic. If he continues on this trajectory, he can be an offensive weapon at the next level, and that’s why Franklin hopes to add him to the Penn State arsenal.