Penn State notebook: Freshman tight end Luke Reynolds gets expanded role

Before Penn State’s season-opening win at West Virginia, the Lions’ coaching staff designated two true freshmen as “green lights’ to play extensively in 2024.

James Franklin said Monday that a third freshman is now a green light: tight end Luke Reynolds.

One of the top players in PSU’s 2024 recruiting class, Reynolds has seen extensive action in the Lions’ first two games, and his role figures to expand with the recent news that fellow tight end Andrew Rappleyea is dealing with a significant injury.

Rappleyea joins offensive lineman Cooper Cousins and safety Dejuan Lane as freshmen who are expected to burn their redshirts.

“Luke’s doing really well,” Franklin said during his Monday afternoon news conference with No. 10 PSU (2-0) prepping to host Kent State (0-3) on Saturday afternoon.

“He showed up on campus, he was very driven and motivated to play, that is both mentally and physically. (He) was willing to do the things necessary to play — attack the weight room, attack summer workouts, attack the playbook.”

The 6-foot-4, 248-pound Reynolds has added significant weight since enrolling in January. The Lions are fond of using multiple tight end sets, and Reynolds and veteran Khalil Dinkins (North Allegheny) give the team options behind standout Tyler Warren.

“(He) has ability to make plays in the passing game,” Franklin said of Reynolds, who has yet to catch a pass.

“Where he’s somewhat unusual in 2024 for a tight end is, he’ll also stick his nose in there. For some of these guys that never really done that at the high school level, that’s a challenge.”

No update on Winston … yet

Third-year safety Kevin Winston Jr., the Lions’ second-leading tackler, left PSU’s 34-27 win over Bowling Green two weeks ago with an undisclosed injury in the first half.

“I don’t really have any new information to share with you guys at this stage,” Franklin said when asked about Winston’s status for Saturday. “I probably will, I would think, probably post-practice, when I see you guys later in the week.”

If Winston can’t go, Franklin said Lane is a safety who could see action behind veterans Jaylen Reed and Zakee Wheatley.

“We’re going to have to develop a few more guys … definitely for short term, we’re going to have to develop some more guys,” Franklin said, referring to the Lions’ safety group.

“(Lane) is going to be really important this week and, obviously, moving forward, as well.

“He’s a guy that we’ve been trying to get more involved, as well. We had planned on playing him more last week (against Bowling Green), didn’t play out that way. He’s probably the guy that I would say our focus is on the most right now.”

Facing an underdog

Kent State lost 71-0 at Tennessee last Saturday, and the Lions are heavy, heavy favorites against the Golden Flashes.

Then again, PSU was a five-touchdown favorite against Bowling Green and had to scramble to win.

“When you schedule these opponents, typically five and seven years out, you don’t know what you’re going to get,” Franklin said. “That’s unpredictable and challenging.

“It’s ultimately about us and our focus on Penn State and us getting better and developing and playing up to our standard week in and week out, which is easier said than done.

“We see it every Saturday. That’s why I always say winning is hard.”