Veteran experience, returners and transfers alike, sets Penn State a part from other teams across the country, especially in the Big Ten. Head coach James Franklin at Penn State Media Day recognized the role veteran leadership has for the Nittany Lions this season.
Not only did he talk about the impact transfers Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross, and Kyron Hudson have on the team in terms of experience, but he expressed his confidence in a position group that failed to perform well in 2024-25.
"They've all been great," Franklin said of the three transfers, according to Nittany Sports Now's Joe Smeltzer. ". . . We have more depth right now at wide receiver than we've had."
Even in the absence of redshirt junior Kaden Saunders who sustained a long-term injury, ruling him out for a large portion of the season at least, the wide receiver room is solid regardless of who steps into the wide receiver four role.
At tight end, though, there have been questions as to whether the role tat now-Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren had can be filled. While his departure is a huge one — even with key offensive returners, like quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen — Franklin didn't seem too worried about the position with one player in mind.
“I don’t think enough people talk about Khalil Dinkins," Franklin said, according to Smeltzer. "Every time we threw the ball to him, it was a touchdown. Might be being dramatic there, but he caught a lot of touchdowns.”
The redshirt senior has made 37 appearances since 2022 as a redshirt freshman. In 2024, Dinkins played in 15 games and had six starts. He caught 14 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. This included two 10.5-yard receptions in the College Football Playoff semifinals against Notre Dame and one 13-yard reception against SMU to open Penn State's CFP run.
These numbers are nowhere close to Warren's, but Dinkins also played in the former Nittany Lions' shadow. It's unrealistic to expect him to post 100-plus receptions for over 1,200 yards in that situation.
Penn State also isn't looking for a carbon copy of Warren either — or at least it's unrealistic to seek out. Franklin recognized Dinkins' touchdown-to-reception ratio and he shouldn't go unnoticed as a blocker either.
"Based off of what he did last season . . . [Dinkins] was just elite at blocking guys one-on-one if it was even a pass protection, like fake gap schemes," offensive lineman Nick Dawkins said, according to Smeltzer. "Great blocking guy . . . the way he moves defensive ends and outside linebackers off the ball . . . it's pretty impressive . . . it' just an extension to the offensive line and in order to get on the field as a tight end, you need to be able to block . . . They need to talk about [Dinkins] more."
He's a key tight end to have in the room in terms of depth. With emerging talent, like sophomore Luke Reynolds and redshirt sophomore Andrew Rappleyea, Dinkins doesn't have to be Warren 2.0. He needs to be a solid veteran that can step up into a bigger role as a pass catcher and leader.
Unlike 2024, too, Allar has more than two running backs and a future first-round tight end to target. As long as the Nittany Lions have reliable options across the three position groups, taking a leap from last season's offensive performance is right at their fingertips.