Penn State is a team that you can always count on having a productive tight end. Whether they be a leading blocker for a top running back, versatile to affect the offense in numerous ways, or the Nittany Lions leading receiver.
Just in the last 15 years, Penn State has had multiple top tight ends who've gone on the play in the NFL; Jesse James, Mike Gesicki, Pat Freiermuth, Brenton Strange, Theo Johnson and most recently Tyler Warren.
None were huge household names across the country, but all made themselves huge pieces of the Nittany Lions offense. Penn State's tight end coach Ty Howle may have identified the next great Nittany Lion tight end.
Learn the Name Andrew Rappleyea
Redshirt sophomore tight end Andrew Rappleyea was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. The tight end was ranked No. 6 in the country at his position and was slated to be the No. 3 option for Penn State in his freshman year behind Warren and and blocking tight end Khalil Dinkins.
However, Rappleyea's freshman season ended after just one game due to a season-ending lower-body injury. Now, the redshirt sophomore is back healthy and ready to step into the void left by the superstar Warren.
"Rapp’s had a really good past two weeks of practice. He’s back, he’s flashing and playing fast," Howle said. "Obviously, coming off of a serious injury, there’s always rust to knock off. So he got through that piece, and he’s playing really good football right now."
First look at TE Andrew Rappleyea following his long-term injury sustained after West Virginia pic.twitter.com/aYxCDcpyhc
— Lexie Linderman (@lexielinderman) August 2, 2025
Rappleyea wears No. 87 and always brings a fun personality to the locker room. The combination of his number, personality, position and play on the field has earned him occasional comparisons to New England Patriots' great Rob Gronkowski.
Alongside Rappleyea in Penn State's tight end room is fellow sophomore, and former five-star recruit Luke Reynolds, who stepped into Rappleyea's role last year after he got injured.
"I think (Rappleyea's) done a great job. He came out with the same energy that he had before he got hurt. And you could really see in the back half of camp, he’s coming back to his normal self," Reynolds said. "Great energy. He’s physical. His tenacity is great. I think he’s going to be an awesome player to play alongside. He’s going to contribute a lot this season, and most importantly, he’s a great teammate."
The team aspect is the most important part. Reynolds and Rappleyea are both sophomore's fighting for playing time, but know they have to lean on each other as well.
“I'm holding myself to a standard that every single tight end holds themselves in our room. Expect to be a starting tight end.”
— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) August 7, 2025
Penn State tight end Andrew Rappleyea is confident and eager following his season-ending injury in 2024https://t.co/37Pk0IQL2S
Penn State has always used multiple tight end sets and likes to lean on more than just one guy.
"The biggest thing is the group knows they all need each other," Howle said. "They need to support one another and coach one another to be the best room in the country, because it helps Penn State football be the best team we can be.
"That’s always the message. There’s never any selfishness or anything like that. We’ve been doing that here for a long time with multiple guys."
Rappleyea and Reynolds may both be competing for the same spot, but Penn State will find ways to utilize both players. The Nittany Lions have a void to fill with Warren off to the NFL, and they may have found their next great tight end in the personable Rappleyea.