Tyler Warren finally getting the respect he deserves for national awards

Coming off Tyler Warren’s 17-catch performance in Penn State’s 33-30 overtime win against USC in Week 7, the senior tight end started to get some national recognition for his incredible season. He is the clear front-runner for the Mackey Award, recognizing the nation’s best tight end and he was a first-team AP midseason All-American, but a few of the larger national awards took a while to give the Nittany Lion superstar his respect. 

In the wake of Warren’s historic performance, equaling the FBS record for single-game receptions by a tight end, his Heisman Trophy odds were eventually posted. While it’s a longshot, Warren is in the mix in a year of unconventional Heisman candidates between Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter. Then, on Wednesday ahead of Penn State’s Week 9 matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium, Warren, along with Fresno State wide receiver Mac Dalena and New Mexico wide receiver Luke Wysong, was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. 

The Bitetnikoff Award is typically awarded to a wide receiver but is designated for the most outstanding FBS receiver at any position. With 40 catches for 513 yards and four touchdowns, Warren is easily Penn State’s most outstanding pass catcher and he ranks 15th in the country in yards per route run, a primary receiver efficiency metric. He is one of three non-wide receivers to rank inside the top 15 for yards per route run with Navy fullback Eli Heidenreich, Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. who gave Penn State’s defense plenty of issues in Week 2, and Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg. 

Warren likely won’t end the season with a gaudy enough statistical profile to be truly considered for the Biletnikoff or the Heisman. Still, he’s been so impressive and so versatile that it would be hard to imagine another player winning the Mackey or being named the first-team All-American tight end. Even if he won’t win the major awards, Penn State fans know that Warren deserves this type of national respect.