From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Penn State TE Khalil Dinkins.
No. 16 Khalil Dinkins/TE Penn State – 6042, 251 pounds (Redshirt Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Khalil Dinkins 6042/251 9 1/2 33 3/4 77 3/4″
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.72 1.70 4.33 7.28
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’11” 32.5″ 25
The Good
– Good frame with plus length
– Effort blocker who drives and finishes; plays with some power
– Can move defensive backs in space
– Soft hands and catches ball away from body
– Willing and experienced pass protector
– Plenty of experience as true in-line Y tight end
– Seemingly selfless and team first
– Largely durable and available
– Football bloodlines
– Nose for end zone with good catch/TD ratio
The Bad
– Marginal athlete who lacks burst coming out of breaks
– Shallow route tree and rarely targeted, catches largely came in the flat or on open/blown coverages
– Plays too out of control as a blocker; gets over toes and falls off and ends up on ground too often
– Lacks anchor to handle power rushes in pass protection
– Blocker first with minimal upside
– Rare number of impact plays and struggled to emerge as full-time starter even after Tyler Warren left
– Testing was average and didn’t suggest a high-end athlete
Stats
– Career: 37 receptions, 399 yards (10.8 YPR), and 7 TDs across 47 games
– 2025: 14 receptions, 167 yards (11.9 YPR), 2 TDs across 12 games
– Single-game highs of 4 receptions and 49 yards
– 1,196 career offensive snaps (838 as in-line player)
– Pro Football Focus’ No. 185 overall 2025 offensive grade of 297 qualifiers (No. 53 run blocker, No. 100 pass blocker)
– 413 yards, 6 TDs senior year of HS
Injury History
– 2024: suffered undisclosed fall-camp injury, missing a month of practice and season opener before returning for Week 2
– 2025: healthy but opted out of 2025 Pinstripe Bowl
Bio
– Turns 24 in August 2026
– Four-star recruit from Wexford, Pa., and North Allegheny High School
– Chose Penn State over Pitt, Michigan, Boston College and several other schools
– Son of former NFL tight end Darnell Dinkins; brother, Kolin, is safety for Penn State while sister, Kayla, was on Tulane’s volleyball team
– Volunteers with the NABA Youth Basketball league
– Favorite superhero is Superman
– Played WR, QB, and LB throughout high school while serving as power forward on basketball team, earning first-team all-section selection
Tape Breakdown
Khalil Dinkins came to Penn State as a highly touted recruit and a player coaches and teammates consistently buzzed about. But that never translated to big production, Dinkins overshadowed by Tyler Warren and struggling to become the No. 1 tight end even in 2025. Still, Dinkins played plenty and held a steady role as an in-line blocker. A job he was effective at, showing power and desire.
The few times his number was called in the pass game, Dinkins displayed soft hands and the ability to pluck the ball away from his body.
But Dinkins rarely impacted the passing game and largely did his damage underneath. He may have some build-up speed, but his routes were limited and he didn’t display much explosiveness out of his breaks. An average Combine workout didn’t help his cause.
As a blocker, he can play a little out of control and struggles to sustain his blocks, too.
Conclusion
Khalil Dinkins can separate himself from other prospects with his size and in-line ability. Still, his ceiling is capped, and he has some work to do as a blocker to take the next step in that phase. He could occupy a role as a trusted No. 3 blocker first but not much more than that.
My NFL comp is Luke Farrell.
NFL Projection: Late Day 3-Undrafted
Steelers Depot Grade: 6.5 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 6.3-6.8
Games Watched: vs Minnesota (2024), at Ohio State (2025), vs Indiana (2025), TD cut-ups
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