Sometimes in the NFL, teams will find players that played at one position in high school or college, might excel if they were to change positions. Today’s report looks at a former high school quarterback who made the jump to tight end at Penn State, and is exploding onto the scene: Tyler Warren.
Hailing from Mechanicsville, Virginia, Tyler was a multi sport athlete in high school, lettering in baseball 3 times, basketball 4 times, as well as 4 times for football. Tyler was named a 3 star recruit by 247 sports, and eventually took his talents to Happy Valley.
After appearing in only 2 games during his first season, his playing time increased significantly during year 2, as he saw action in all 13 games, both as a receiver and in the short yardage rushing game. Year 3 saw an increase in passing production, finishing with 10 catches for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The best was yet to come for Tyler, however, as his next season saw him haul in 34 catches, 422 yards and 7 touchdowns on his way to being named a third team All Big-Ten from the coaches in the conference.
Warren’s multi-sport athleticism background will translate well to the gridiron, allowing for increased development in his game. He currently holds the record for most receptions in a single game (17), the second most yardage in a single game (224), and as of this article, sits one receiving touchdown shy of entering the top 10 in school history. But how well does the rest of his game measure up? Let’s find out:
Player Info
Name: Tyler Warren
Jersey: No. 44
Position: Tight End
School: Penn State
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 257 lbs.
Tyler Warren’s Strengths
It’s been mentioned it a couple of times, but it bears repeating; Tyler is an exceptional level athlete for the tight end position, which allows him to be versatile and deployed in multiple fashions along the offense. In addition, Tyler is a natural hands catcher, being able to reel in passes from all around him, without the need for them to come into his body.
He is a tough runner with the ball in his hands, fighting for extra contact consistently, and always looking to fall forward for that extra bit of yardage. He also is a willing blocker, looking to do the dirty work and lay some folks out with a nasty demeanor in the run game as well.
Tyler Warren’s Weaknesses
Tyler is still relatively new to the tight end position, so there will be some growing pains, as he will need development at the next level. His blocking technique needs an overhaul, as he often plays too high, or gives up unnecessary leverage.
His production has been somewhat inconsistent due to a deeper tight end rotation, so you’d love to see what his ceiling could be when he’s the top dog in the tight end room. You’d also love to see him improve his hand placement when blocking, both in the run and pass game, just to avoid getting called for holding calls unnecessarily at the next level.
Draft Projection
Tyler is an elite athletic prospect who should hear his name called within the first 2 rounds of the NfL Draft, as he has a sky high potential, and is very moldable as a tight end prospect goes. Some teams I believe could be in on Tyler in the NFL Draft:
- Cincinnati Bengals (Hear me out: I know Tight End might not be at the top of the board for Bengals fans, but can you imagine a passing offense with Chase and Tee (or a first round rookie) on the outside, and Warren at the tight end spot? That would be unfair for AFC Defenses moving forward.)
- Miami Dolphins (The same can be said for South Beach, as they have a little bit of a higher need for tight end, and adding Warren to this already deadly passing attack could take McDaniel’s offenses to the next level.)
- New York Jets (We’ll stay in the AFC for this third squad, as the Jets could use the pass catching prospect to further bolster their offense, whether ARod returns or not. His blocking technique could be a bit of damper on this squad, but his athleticism could be high enough for the Jets to make the jump anyways.)
Any team who selects Tyler Warren needs to have a plan in place for his development moving forward at the tight end position, but his pass catching skills and athleticism alone should be able to get him onto an NFL Roster and Field early in the season. Time will tell if he can develop into a star.
My comparison to Tyler Warren: Antonio Gates, TE, Los Angeles (San Diego) Chargers
