Penn State OC on Andrew Rappleyea’s Return: ‘We Have to Pull Him Back’
Penn State tight end Andrew Rappleyea is aggressively working to return from the injury that sidelined him for most of the 2024 season. After playing only in the season opener against West Virginia, the 6-foot-4, 251-pound junior is determined to make his mark in the upcoming season.
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has been impressed by Rappleyea’s energy and drive during preseason practices, noting that sometimes coaches have to rein him in to prevent him from overdoing it.
“You can immediately see his desire to improve and be involved,” Kotelnicki said. “Sometimes with guys coming off injuries, they’re hesitant. That’s not the case here. We’ve had to step in and say, ‘Hey, you don’t need to take this rep.’ He keeps jumping to the front of the line.”
Rappleyea is aiming to earn a spot in a tight end group that also features veteran Khalil Dinkins and rising sophomore Luke Reynolds. Head coach James Franklin emphasized how much Rappleyea’s absence was felt last season and how eager he is now to contribute.
“He was set to play a big role last year,” Franklin said. “So losing him was a big deal. Now, he’s extremely motivated to get back, and we think we’ll again have three tight ends we can win with.”
Kotelnicki added that Rappleyea showed a strong commitment to recovery and getting back on the field as soon as possible. “As soon as he could walk, he was ready to jump into drills,” he said. “That kind of motivation gives me a lot of confidence he’ll make a successful return.”
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