Penn State TE Tyler Warren Opts Out of On-Field Drills at NFL Combine. Why?

INDIANAPOLIS — Tyler Warren is following suit with Penn State’s other likely first-round NFL Draft selection, Abdul Carter, and will not participate in on-field drills at this week’s scouting combine, he confirmed on Thursday. Warren is expected to become one of, if not the first tight end selected in April’s draft.

“Just kind of sitting down, talking with my agent and stuff that we were coming with at the moment, staying focused on keeping my body as healthy as I can possibly have it as we get into the preseason process,” Warren said.

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, the first to report Warren’s decision to opt out of drills, also reported that Warren has received a green room invite to attend the draft in Green Bay.

Carter, on Wednesday, also expressed his intentions to live out a dream by “walking that stage.” A shoulder injury sustained against Boise State in the College Football Playoff and a right foot injury will keep Carter from competing in combine drills, but Carter still intends to work out at the Nittany Lions’ Pro Day on March 28.

There has been a growing consensus among draft analysts that Carter could become the first overall pick, landing with the Tennessee Titans. And Warren isn’t expected to wait for too long after his college teammate is ultimately selected. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Warren, this past season’s Mackey Award winner, being picked with the No. 7 pick by the New York Jets.

With Warren and Carter no longer set to participate in drills, Penn State will now have just three players hit the combine turf: linebacker Kobe King and safeties Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed.