UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State head coach James Franklin, redshirt senior+ defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas, senior safety Jaylen Reed and senior tight end Tyler Warren are set to represent Penn State at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis on Wednesday, July 24.
Franklin, a 29-year football coaching veteran, was appointed Penn State's 16th head football coach on January 11, 2014 and enters his 14th season as a collegiate head coach. Franklin's career head coaching record is 112-55 and he is one of five active FBS coaches with a 66-plus winning percentage and 13-plus years coaching experience.
Under Franklin's direction, Penn State has finished in the top 12 of the final College Football Playoff rankings in six of the last eight seasons, has earned berths in five New Year's Six bowl games with three wins and won the 2016 Big Ten Championship. Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to a school-record 93 percent graduation success rate in the most recent GSR report and a perfect single-year 1,000 APR for the 2018-19 school year.
Dvon J-Thomas · R-Sr+. · DT · 6-1 · 304 · Burtonsville, Md. · McDonogh School
- Has appeared in 43 career games, making 10 starts.
- Earned his Penn State degree in telecommunications.
- Named honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the media in 2023.
- Garnered the team’s Ridge Riley Memorial Award.
- Enters 2024 with 59 career tackles (30 solo) to go with 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
- In 2023, tallied 26 tackles (14 solo), five tackles for loss and a QB hurry.
- According to Pro Football Focus, tied-seventh among Big Ten interior defensive linemen with five tackles for loss or no gain on run plays.
Jaylen Reed · Sr. · S · 6-0 · 209 · Detroit, Mich. · Martin Luther King Jr.
- Garnered All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from the coaches and media.
- Has appeared in 34 career games at Penn State.
- Owns 83 tackles (59 solo), six tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and four pass breakups in his PSU career.
- Started all 13 games at safety last season.
- Collected 46 tackles (32 solo), four tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions and a pass breakup in 2023.
- The Detroit native set a career high with eight tackles vs. Indiana, including a solo tackle for loss. He recorded his first career interception in the second quarter and returned it 17 yards.
- Intercepted a pass to end Michigan State’s opening drive.
Tyler Warren · Sr. · TE · 6-6 · 256 · Mechanicsville, Va. · Atlee
- Has appeared in 40 career games, making 15 starts.
- Earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and honorable mention from the media in 2023.
- Named Academic All-Big Ten.
- Garnered Penn State’s Keystone Award, sharing the honor with Abdul Carter, Theo Johnson and Kevin Winston Jr.
- Was the Bob Mitinger Memorial Award winner for being an ultimate teammate.
- Has made 49 career receptions for 606 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding two rushing scores.
- Owns 11 career touchdown receptions, tied for 18th all-time at Penn State and tied-fourth among PSU tight ends.
- Posted 34 receptions for 422 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
- Tied-first in the Big Ten and tied-third in the nation among tight ends with seven touchdown receptions. His 422 yards were fourth-most among Big Ten tight ends.
- Tied-fourth in the Big Ten with seven touchdown receptions.
- According to Coaches By The Numbers, was tied for seventh nationally among tight ends in red zone catches (9).
- Combined with Theo Johnson and Khalil Dinkins for 16 receiving touchdowns by tight ends, the most in the nation during the 2023 season.
- Penn State was the only FBS team with multiple tight ends owning 7+ receiving touchdowns in 2023.
Penn State's season opener at West Virginia on Aug. 31 will kick at noon on FOX. The Nittany Lions return 42 lettermen from last year’s squad – 17 on offense, 22 on defense and three on special teams and bring back 16 starters – seven on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams.
For club and ticket information for the 2024 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.