After a five-year career in Happy Valley, Penn State football tight end Khalil Dinkins is headed to the NFL Draft.

Coming out of North Allegheny High School, Dinkins was a four-star recruit and the 12th highest rated player in Pennsylvania in the class of 2021, according to 247Sports.

Dinkins was a key role player throughout his time as a Nittany Lion, appearing in 48 games for the Blue and White. After starting his time at Penn State behind current NFL tight ends such as Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren, Dinkins carved out a starting role for his senior season. He racked up 399 receiving yards on 37 receptions with seven touchdowns throughout his time at Penn State.

He received an invite to the NFL combine, where he showcased explosiveness and athleticism, running a 4.72 40-yard dash and hitting 9’11” on the broad jump. That athleticism gives him a path as a late-day three pick that some teams might take a swing on.

Dinkins is the 438th-ranked player and 32nd-ranked tight end on the consensus big board. The Wexford, Pennsylvania native has publicly been on one pre-draft visit so far, that being with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He projects as a likely priority free agent with late-round upside.

The 2026 NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 23, and goes through Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All seven rounds will be broadcast on ESPN and can also be seen on NFL Plus.

About the Author

Brian Kriley

Brian is a sophomore from State College, PA, majoring in journalism and minoring in sports studies. He serves as an associate editor and is on the wrestling and hockey beats. You can offer him a job or send hate mail at bkriley123@gmail.com

How Centre County Voted In The 2026 Midterm Elections

Centre County saw a 55.32% voter turnout rate in the general election.

Man Accused of Stealing Vehicle From State College Hotel & Driving Drunk

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.

‘Blood In The Water’: Penn State Football Cornerback Audavion Collins & Secondary Elevating Surrounding Units

“He does a good job of making everyone else around him better because he’s the hardest-working guy on the field at all times.”