The Associated Press Penn State tight end Tyler Warren scores a touchdown in a game against Michigan State at Ford Field in Detroit.

By Neil Rudel

nrudel@altoonamirror.com

Drew Allar calls tight end Tyler Warren “Mr. Dependable.”

So there’s no question of the Nittany Lions’ starter when the season opens next Saturday at West Virginia (noon, Fox).

After a strong performance in the Peach Bowl, Warren came back for a final season and will be a go-to option in Penn State’s offense.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder made 34 catches last season for 422 yards and seven touchdowns, including five receptions for 122 yards vs. Ole Miss.

His 11 career TDs are the second highest among tight ends in PSU history, four behind NFL players Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuth, a record Warren could break this season.

“Everybody knows Ty Warren,” Allar said. “But there’s a lot of young tight ends in that room who have really taken the next step in that progression.”

Two candidates to see time alongside or behind Warren are true freshman Luke Reynolds (85) and redshirt junior Khalil Dinkins (16).

Reynolds has turned heads in camp and has been listed as one of the Lions’ top newcomers.

“He makes a ton of plays in the passing game. He’s going to be a really good player,” James Franklin said. “We got great competition at the tight end position, but he’s going to be a guy that’s going to play this year; whether it is four games plus postseason (to preserve a redshirt) or whether it’s just an all-out play is still yet to be determined.”

Reynolds is a Massachusetts product who was ranked among the nation’s top tight ends. He’s added 20 pounds of bulk since enrolling in January.

“It’s been really cool to see his development, physically and mentally, these past seven months,” Allar said.

Dinkins, a product of North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, has more experience but has been slowed by injuries during fall camp.

In the last two seasons, he’s caught nine passes for 110 yards – a 12.2 per-reception average – and three touchdowns, including two last year.

“My goal is for Penn State is to win the Big Ten championship but for me as a player it’s to get better as a player and a person and score some touchdowns,” Dinkins said.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder is a rangy target who was used last year in jumbo packages along with Warren and Theo Johnson.

“Last year, I was just trying to make a name for myself,” Dinkins said. “We still had Theo and Tyler, and they had a big role. Brenton (Strange), Theo and Tyler have been big mentors to me.”

Andrew Rappleyea, Jerry Cross and Joey Schlaffer round out the tight end pool.

Even though new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is known to use his tight ends, there’s only one ball.

“We’re competing as tight ends with the receivers and running backs … because we’re going be very diverse on offense, being able to change personnels,” tight ends coach Ty Howle said. “So we’re competing against all those position rooms to see how many tight ends we’ll have on the field.”