Early in the fourth quarter of the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, Nick Singleton took a handoff seven yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 17. The broadcast cut to Singleton’s celebration, but in the background of that shot was a Nittany Lion who was key in the scoring play.
That player was tight end Khalil Dinkins, whose role as a blocker led offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to describe him in April as “the most unheralded player” on the 2024 offense. Paired with the “Touchdown King” title he earned after spring camp, Dinkins isn’t getting enough recognition as national championship hype builds in Happy Valley.
Last season, Dinkins was a run blocker on 292 snaps, which was the third-most of any Penn State skill player. His ability to open up rushing lanes and reach the second level to block opposing linebackers were vital for Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who both rushed for over 1,000 yards.
As a pass blocker, Dinkins never allowed a sack or a quarterback hit and gave up four pressures.
Dinkins didn’t light up the stat sheet, which has caused his efforts to go more unnoticed than it should. However, his blocking is highly regarded by his teammates, so Penn State fans should follow suit.
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he did for us last year,” quarterback Drew Allar said in April. “He’s one of the best blocking tight ends in the country in both run and pass game.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Singleton and Allen are within reach of setting a new all-time career rushing record at Penn State, and Allar can position himself to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with a strong campaign. If any of those milestones are met, Dinkins’ role as a blocker will be important, exemplifying how he merits more recognition.
As for the receiving game, the Nittany Lions’ tight end room has shoes to fill with Tyler Warren’s departure to the NFL. Dinkins is a strong candidate to replace the red-zone production as he tied for the most touchdowns of anyone on offense throughout spring ball.
That shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise, however, as even though he only has 23 career receptions, he has five career touchdowns. Now that Dinkins has a shot at the starting job, he is primed to be a real red-zone threat this upcoming season, further showcasing why he deserves more attention.
Sophomore tight end Luke Reynolds is a popular pick as a breakout candidate, which causes not enough light to be shined on Dinkins by the Penn State faithful. Dinkins has experience over Reynolds, and combined with some of his traits noticed by Allar, he should be praised more by the fanbase.
“When (Dinkins) had his opportunities in the pass game as a catcher, he really made some tough contested catches for us throughout the season,” Allar said in April.
It’s a common belief that the Nittany Lions are one of the favorites to be the next national champions. That opinion mainly stems from the return of multiple players who project as high draft picks and the additions of key transfers.
While those reasons are warranted, Penn State fans shouldn’t forget about Dinkins. More likely than not, he’ll play a critical role on offense this upcoming season as the team aims for redemption from its College Football Playoff semifinal loss.
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