Tyler Warren led Penn State in both receiving yards and rushing yards, accumulating 190 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, in a 49-10 win at Purdue this past weekend. On Monday, Warren was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Warren currently leads the Nittany Lions with 965 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns in both the rushing and receiving sectors, as well as 26 passing yards and a passing touchdown. For another week, Warren was an instrumental piece in James Franklin’s offense.
“I’ve stated it earlier in the year; I stated it tonight. I think Tyler Warren should be a part of all the conversations that deal with the best football players in college football. I don’t think it’s a question,” Franklin said postgame. “And that’s all those types of awards, including the Heisman.”
It’s not just that Warren is making an impact in the passing game, which he is, leading Penn State with 808 receiving yards and five catching touchdowns. But also as a blocker, a passer and a rusher.
It should say something that his performance against Purdue is arguably not his most dominant game of the year. That may be reserved for his showing at USC on Oct. 12, in which he caught 17 receptions for 224 yards and a score.
“Did I anticipate or did I predict us using him in this way? Yes. This level of success? No, I don’t know if I would necessarily say that,” Franklin said. “I thought he’d have a good year. I think he’s having one of the more special years that I can remember in my 30 years, specifically at that position. And again, I think he’s at a point where this conversation exceeds just the position.”
