So You Drafted Penn State TE Khalil Dinkins

Penn State tight end Khalil Dinkins (16) runs after a catch during the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in State College. The White team defeated the Blue team, 10-8. | Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images THE SKINNY Khalil Dinkins joined Penn State as a four-star recruit who was ranked as the 14th tight end in the 2021 class and 12th-best overall player in Pennsylvania.

He took a redshirt year as he worked his way up the depth chart in a very crowded tight end room filled with future NFL Draft picks. Dinkins saw the field regularly as a redshirt freshman in 2022, playing 10 games on special teams and as a reserve tight end. He continued this role in 2023, gradually seeing more snaps at tight end as he caught five passes for 57 yards, scoring on two of those receptions.

Dinkins was able to break into the starting rotation in 2024, but was largely overshadowed by Tyler Warren, who shattered record books on his way to becoming a unanimous first-team All-American. Although getting most snaps as an in-line tight end, he was still able to set a career-high with 14 receptions for 122 yards and two scores. He also became a trusted target of Drew Allar, who often looked to Dinkins on key third and fourth down attempts.

Dinkins reputation as a standout blocking tight end continued through his senior year in 2025, helping Kaytron Allen to an All-American season while becoming the all-time leader in rushing yards in program history. Dinkins role remained mostly the same, with Andrew Rappleyea and Luke Reynolds (who followed James Franklin to Virginia Tech) acting as the primary pass catching tight ends. The always-reliable Dinkins had a similar statline, this time catching 14 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns.