In the final update of On3.com’s 2025 recruiting rankings, Penn State tight end Andrew Olesh, who the Nittany Lions flipped from Michigan on early national signing day, earned his fifth-star with a 14-spot jump from No. 43 to No. 29 in the national rankings. This update came in the wake of 247Sports final rankings which bumped Penn State offensive lineman Malachi Goodman up to five-star status (Olesh is still a four-star for 247).
Late in the recruiting cycle, flipping Olesh from Michigan appeared to be Penn State’s No. 1 priority as James Franklin and his staff were looking to rebuild a pass-catching group on offense and replace Mackey Award-winning tight end Tyler Warren, who also finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting last year. Olesh is one of three tight ends in Penn State’s 2025 class and will join a loaded group that tight end coach Ty Howle has assembled to fill Warren’s massive shoes.
Despite his five-star status, it could be tough for Olesh to contribute as a true freshman because this is the second consecutive recruiting class to feature a five-star tight end. Aside from the 2025 group that features Olesh, Matt Henderson, and Brian Kortovich, the Nittany Lions also have 2024 five-star Luke Reynolds who caught nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman.
Reynolds is the presumed starter, but that may not be a given. Khalil Dinkins will be back for his senior season after hauling in 14 passes for 122 yards and two scores in 2024, and Reynolds only burnt his redshirt once redshirt freshman Andrew Rappleyea, a highly-rated four-star in the 2023 recruiting class, was lost for the year with a long-term injury.
Both of Penn State’s leading wide receivers, Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans transferred away after a disappointing performance in the Nittany Lion’s Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, so the tight end room could be the focal point of the passing game. Incoming transfer receivers Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross will take a bulk of the work on the outside, but senior quarterback Drew Allar may favor Reynolds, Dinkins, Rappleyea, and potential Olesh, in the passing game.
Penn State is quickly becoming Tight End University and the Nittany Lion’s newly-minted five-star is next in a long line of potential stars at the position.