Former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 14 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is the third-highest drafted tight end in Penn State history, behind Ted Kwalick, who went No. 7 overall in 1969, and Kyle Brady, who went No. 9 overall in 1995.

Warren joins Abdul Carter as Nittany Lions taken in the first round, representing the second consecutive Penn State first-round selection duo following Olu Fashanu and Chop Robinson in 2024.

Warren came to Penn State as a three-star recruit in the Class of 2020 out of Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia, according to the 247 Composite rankings. He was ranked as the No. 22 tight end and No. 16 player in the state of Virginia. Warren entered a crowded tight end room filled with future NFL draft picks in Pat Freiermuth, Brenton Strange, and Theo Johnson, leading him to redshirt the shortened 2020 season.

Warren saw the field for the first time in 2021 as the third tight end in the depth chart, only recording five receptions for 61 yards. However, his role grew beyond the tight end position as a wildcat quarterback in goal-line formations, rushing for a pair of touchdowns. He improved to catch ten passes for 123 yards in 2022.

In 2023, Warren shared the field with Johnson as Penn State’s tight end duo and earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors after posting 34 receptions for 422 yards and seven touchdowns. A breakout performance in the Peach Bowl defeat in late December served as a springboard for his magnum opus the following year.

Warren returned for his redshirt senior season in 2024 despite a chance at being a mid-round selection in the 2024 draft. In 16 games, Warren caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding 216 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, and a passing touchdown in an incredible season that displayed his offensive versatility, peaking with a 224-yard performance at USC.

Warren broke the program record for tight ends in touchdowns, yards, and receptions, as well as the program record for most receptions by any player in a season. His reception and receiving yard totals also broke Big Ten tight end records.

He was named a first-team All-American by the FWAA and The Sporting News, a First-Team All-Big Ten honoree, and came seventh in Heisman Trophy voting, the highest mark by a Penn State athlete since Saquon Barkley in 2017. He also won the John Mackey Award for the best tight end in college football.