Luke Reynolds grabbed a rebound, put it back up and scored, all while being fouled. Then, he broke into a signature celebration — one he and his Lawrence Academy teammates had rehearsed.
The kicker? Future Penn State teammate Andrew Rappleyea was the one who had just fouled him.
“I definitely remember him talking some crap,” Rappleyea said. “He actually had a nice little bucket on me.”
That moment, years ago on a New England prep school basketball court, didn’t mean much at the time. But now, it’s a fun footnote in a growing position battle between the two rivals-turned-teammates as they battle for the No. 2 tight end spot at Penn State behind apparent No. 1 Khalil Dinkins.
Rappleyea was a four-star recruit out of Massachusetts and one of the top tight ends in the 2023 class, drawing offers from several SEC and Big Ten schools. Reynolds, a quarterback-turned-tight end, rocketed up recruiting boards late in his high school career thanks to his blend of size and athleticism, earning high four-star status.
Tight ends coach Ty Howle said versatility is a key attribute he looks for in recruits. He prioritizes multi-sport athletes, and ones who perform well in school, citing one of the team’s core values: compete in everything you do.
Rappleyea, now fully recovered from the injury that sidelined him for almost all of last season, said the physical setback was never going to define his trajectory.
“Obviously a lot of frustration, but just knowing that it’s just simply a bump on the road and that everything was going to shake out the way I wanted still,” Rappleyea said. “So I feel really good now. So just forget it ever happened. I feel like myself.”

The redshirt sophomore said he’s back to 100%, and possibly better than he was before. He was able to continue learning the offense with jog-through reps throughout the winter and spring, allowing him to jump back into the action quickly. Howle said he’s having “a really good camp so far.”
“I think the big thing for him is the way he plays the game. He has great tenacity and will to play, and he loves football, so he’s like a sponge,” Howle said. “He takes coaching and just works to get better every day. He’s not worried about what happened in the past.”
In his absence, Reynolds began building momentum as a true freshman. After arriving at 212 pounds, he bulked up to the 245-250 range, which he still maintains. This allowed him to see the field last season, when he logged nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown, along with a 32-yard run for a clutch fourth-down conversion on a fake punt against Minnesota.
“He’s had a year to carry that, he moves really well,” Howle said. “Really, really smart and intentional with what he does.”
Reynolds knew his hands and route-running were already there, but blocking, as Howle and others reminded him, wasn’t optional.
“He tells you on day one that you got to be able to block,” Reynolds said, “and more importantly, got to be willing to block.”
After clashing on opposite sidelines years ago, the two are now fighting a different battle — for snaps. But there’s no bad blood between them, with Rappleyea taking on a leadership role for his younger teammate.
“Rap has been my friend since day one,” Reynolds said. “He’s come in and been a great leader, shown me the ropes, took me under his wing, making sure that I was good. So it means everything to be back out there with him, seeing him get better, and see him back on the field.”
Rappleyea has been impressed with Reynolds since his arrival in Happy Valley, saying he sensed a competitive spirit since the two first crossed paths.
“He’s a stud, there’s no denying it,” Rappleyea said. “Kid checks every box you could ask for, and he’s gonna be good. So we got a really good one.”
It’s possible they’ll continue to battle throughout the fall and into the coming years, vying for more playing time in one of the premier rooms in college football. With Dinkins leading the charge in 2025 and Rappleyea and Reynolds not far behind, one thing is clear: the room is in good hands.