STATE COLLEGE – It’s been an uphill fight for Joey Schlaffer to add weight since he arrived at Penn State a little more than two years ago as a 215-pound tight end.
These days, though, the 6-5 Schlaffer weighs 250 pounds, putting himself in better position to compete for playing time.
“I’ve been impressed with how he’s really attacked the physicality of these practices,” tight ends coach Ty Howle said earlier this week. “He had a really good winter from adding weight and strength. I’ve been impressed with his mindset on what he needs to work on.”
Schlaffer has a chance this spring to show Howle and Nittany Lions coach James Franklin that he’s worthy of playing time on offense.
Fellow tight ends Luke Reynolds and Andrew Rappleyea, presumed to be ahead of him on the depth chart, have been sidelined because of injuries. Schlaffer has been receiving increased repetitions behind Khalil Dinkins.
“He’s done a nice job of attacking his weaknesses this spring,” Howle said.
In high school at Exeter, Schlaffer set Berks County career receiving records with 2,493 yards and 28 touchdowns. He helped the Eagles win the District 3 Class 5A title as a junior and the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 championship as a senior.
He was rated a four-star prospect by On3 and Rivals and received three stars from 247 Sports and ESPN.
Schlaffer has spent time behind Theo Johnson, who’s in the NFL with the New York Giants, and Tyler Warren, who won the John Mackey Award last season as the nation’s top tight end and is projected as a first-round draft pick.
Southern Lehigh grad Andrew Olesh, a four-star prospect, enrolled at Penn State in January.
Warren will become the fifth Penn State tight end in the NFL, along with Johnson, Brenton Strange (Jacksonville), Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh) and Mike Gesicki (Cincinnati).
“This is where you should want to come (if you’re a tight end),” Howle said. “We’ve had guys who have been complete tight ends here for a long time, not just guys who are pass catchers or run blockers. We’re trying to develop the overall tight end.”
#Berks #County #star #Joey #Schlaffer #seize #opportunity #Penn #State
