Tyler Warren – record breaker.

The tight end broke his second program record in Penn State football this season 27-11 victory over UCLA. Warren broke Pat Freriermuth’s school record of 16 total touchdowns from 2018-2020 after scoring a career-high No. 17 touchdown before halftime on Saturday.

“I’m very honored to be part of that conversation given the long line of tight ends that have played in this room,” Warren said after the game. “The nice thing about football is that I can’t score touchdowns on my own.”

With 24 seconds left before halftime, Omari Evans and Trey Wallace both ran crossing routes from the five-yard line against man coverage while Warren snuck underneath on an out route to break the record.

Warren broke another school record against Bowling Green in week two. The senior had eight receptions and 146 yards – the most receiving yards in a game against Penn State tight end.

Warren has been quarterback Drew Allar’s favorite target so far this season, leading the Nittany Lions with 23 receptions and 289 yards. That’s nine more receptions and 59 more yards than the team’s second-best receiver, Wallace.

“He’s reliable,” James Franklin said. “The guy does his job and does it on a consistent basis, whether it’s blocking, whether he’s running the ball as a ball carrier or as a receiver.”

“I think he’s the best tight end in college football,” Franklin added.

This wasn’t the first time Franklin has praised his tight endand it probably won’t be the last.

Warren said he and Allar have a good bond, but spoke more about the connection of the entire offense as a whole.

“Think about how many guys have had 100-yard games,” Warren said. “With Liam (Clifford) having one today, I think it’s four or five different guys who have gone over 100 metres. I think this takes our connection as an insult.”

Clifford became the fourth player this season to have more than 100 receiving yards in a game, joining Warren, Wallace and Evans. The only two players to do it last season were now Auburn receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Warren.

Clifford has played a bigger role this season. The redshirt junior recorded his first career touchdown against Kent State and has proven to be a major threat on offense. His average yards per reception is 16.4 yards.

“My preparation won’t change either way,” Clifford said. “Whether I have zero meters or 200 meters, I prepare the same way.”

Wallace and Clifford were both in Penn State’s 2021 recruiting class. Wallace said he and Clifford have been “locked in” since they arrived on campus.

“I’m just super proud of him,” Wallace said. ‘I’m happy that the world is finally seeing what he can do. The work he puts in does not go unnoticed.”

There was a lot of criticism of the wide receiving area after it underperformed last season. This year the room looked more impressive and Wallace and Clifford both said it feels good to show off what the room is capable of.

“We stuck together the whole time,” Clifford said. “We always talk about staying connected and I think that’s the biggest difference for us this year.”