*Pat Freiermuth, Penn State Football News: Draft Scout Player News

06/29/20 - TE *Pat Freiermuth, Jr/2021, Penn State

Freiermuth is Penn State's best returning offensive player and a potential first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The junior tight end contributed in all facets of the previous iterations of the Nittany Lion offense and should do the same under new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. He's a big, versatile target in the passing game who can play attached to the line and detached from it in the slot. Freiermuth is a good athlete and precise route runner in the middle of the field. Once he has the ball in his hands, the junior tight end uses his physicality and athleticism to break tackles in the open field. He's no slouch in the run game, either. Freiermuth is strong enough to help the Nittany Lion offensive tackles on double teams and sound enough technically to take on linebackers and help create rushing lanes.

There are signs that Freiermuth could see a drop in production this year. Ciarrocca rarely used his tight ends in the passing attack at Minnesota and relied heavily on the position as an extra blocker. The Golden Gophers had three tight ends combine for 88 yards and two touchdowns on 10 catches in the 2019 season. Freiermuth blew those numbers out of the water on his own last year. He hauled in 43 passes for 507 yards and seven touchdowns as Penn State's starter at the position. Those concerns made their way to Freiermuth, who quickly quelled them when he spoke with the media during the spring. "I love the new offense," Freiermuth said in May. "I guess you guys will have to find out about how they're going to use me. I know, and the coaches know, but I'm not going to leak too many details out. Obviously there's some rumors about using tight ends, but I promise you I'm going to be used." - Centre Times

Jr/2021