Penn State superstar draws flattering comparison to living NFL legend from former teammate

Tyler Warren is having the best season of a Penn State tight end since Pat Freiermuth was an All-American in 2019. The two were teammates at Penn State for one season in 2020, and in 2024, Warren has surpassed his predecessor and every other tight end in program history with his 17th career receiving touchdown. Now, Freiermuth, the current Pittsburgh Steeler is setting the bar high for Warren by comparing him to a certain Kansas City Chief. 

“He’s a helluva tight end,” Freiermuth told reporters when asked about his former teammate dominating for his undefeated alma mater. “He reminds me of Kelce.”

Travis Kelce isn’t just dating the most famous person in the world, he also might be the best tight end of all time, racking up 11,663 receiving yards and counting over 12 years in the league. Warren still has a long way to go before he enters the NFL, but he’s certainly outproduced Kelce in college, far surpassing his 875 career receiving yards across three years at Cincinnati before becoming a third-round pick in 2013. Warren is approaching 1,200 receiving yards at Penn State, now in his fifth season as a redshirt senior. 

While Freiermuth may not know it, the comparison is fairly sound. The 6-foot-5 250-pound Kelce and 6-foot-6 260-pound Warren were both high school quarterbacks and multi-sport athletes who excelled in basketball, and both have play-callers who lean into their versatility. 

Kansas City head coach Andy Reid trusts Kelce to throw downfield laterals like the one above, and despite having arguably the most talented quarterback in NFL history on his roster, has even allowed his superstar tight end to run the show at quarterback on rare occasions. 

At Penn State, first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has put all of Warren’s talents on display, playing him at every offensive position except offensive tackle and offensive guard. Yes, that includes center. Warren is 2/2 as a passer for 26 yards and a touchdown, has rushed seven times for 40 yards and a score, both as an option quarterback and a running back, and leads the team with 47 catches for 559 yards and four TDs. 

Warren still has a long way to go before he lives up to his former teammate's lofty expectations, but as the undisputed best tight end in college football this season, it doesn’t feel entirely outlandish. Warren is the clear favorite to win the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end and was recently added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list.