Since 2000, the Mackey Award has gone to the best tight end in college football. Penn State has never had a winner — until maybe 2024. All throughout the preseason, Franklin made sure to highlight two wide receivers as clear-cut practice standouts: Liam Clifford and Harrison Wallace III.

Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is one of the best players in the country at his position, and he showed it in Penn State's last game against Bowling Green. He racked up 146 yards in that game and was a big part of the narrow 34-27 victory.