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Penn State football enthusiasts have had minimal exposure to tight end Gabe Burkle, as the initial six months of his tenure in State College were dedicated to rehabilitation following an ACL injury sustained in November 2025. However, his potential impact on the Nittany Lions' roster is anything but minimal.
Head coach Matt Campbell has labeled Burkle as "critically important" to the team's 2026 offensive scheme, which is set to feature at least four tight ends. In fact, Campbell wouldn't mind adding even more depth to the position. Burkle's healthy return is seen as a cornerstone for an offense that heavily relies on tight ends, perhaps more than any other team in the nation.
"I would say he's critically important [to Penn State's 2026 offense] and has been critically important to our success," Campbell remarked. He also noted that Burkle, along with safety Jeremiah Cooper and linebacker Alex Tatsch, will start training camp cleared but with limitations. The team is targeting Burkle and Cooper's full returns by at least Game 2 against Temple.
Burkle's journey to prominence began in 2024 when he stepped in for the injured starter Ben Brahmer at Iowa State, delivering a breakout season with 26 catches over eight starts. That performance set the stage for 2025, where he was enjoying the best season of his career before the injury against TCU on Nov. 8. He had already matched his career-high in receptions and was proving to be a valuable complement to Brahmer, even surpassing him in a crucial skill area.
Campbell praised Burkle's blocking abilities, stating, "If you really study Iowa State and you study Gabe Burkle, that guy was the best blocking tight end in the country, the best off-the-ball tight end [in the country]." He also highlighted Burkle's growth as a receiver, noting his exceptional hands and route-running precision. "He's elite at the top of the route. He can certainly be a guy that, whether it's over the middle or vertically down the field, is a real asset."
Key Analysis
Despite being limited during spring drills, Burkle's return is highly anticipated. Campbell believes the 6-6 redshirt senior will be a high-impact player, emphasizing his role in extending gaps, creating opportunities, and serving as a reliable outlet in the passing game. The coach describes tight end as the best position group on the roster and a cornerstone of the offense.
Campbell is also vocal about Brahmer being the top tight end in the country, even comparing him favorably to Tyler Warren, who won the Mackey Award in 2024. With Brahmer, Burkle, and Andrew Rappleyea—who is in a "great spot" after missing spring drills—Penn State boasts a trio that could start across the Big Ten. Additionally, Campbell is excited about Cooper Alexander, another Iowa State transfer, and the overall depth of the room.
"Top to bottom, that's a really special room right now," Campbell said. "When you have Rap, you have Gabe and you have Ben at the top of it, and then you have Cooper Alexander as a really talented young football player that's coming in, and Finn [Furmanek], that's a room that we feel really good about. And selfishly, I'd like to have one more. I'd like to have as many [tight ends] as we can. We're coming from a place where we're used to having eight or nine scholarship tight ends. So we'll continue to build the equity of that room, just because I think it's really important, whether it's on special teams or just how you play a football game."
Penn State opens training camp on Aug. 5, with the season opener against Marshall scheduled for Sept. 5 at Beaver Stadium. Fans can sign up for the free Penn State Nittany Lions newsletter and follow the team on social media for updates.