How Penn State football TE Pat Freiermuth isn’t letting high expectations derail his focus
It’s not difficult to find out what NFL draft analysts think about Pat Freiermuth’s future.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have the Penn State tight end among the top 25 prospects for the 2021 NFL draft. Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 6 player to decide to skip the 2020 NFL draft and return to college. Former NFL scout and current Ourlads general manager Dan Shonka called him “the best tight end in (the country).”
With that type of recognition it’d be easy to get caught up in the hype and focus on those rankings heading into the 2020 season. Instead, Freiermuth has done his best to avoid those distractions and is trying to hone in on what he really wants out of what could be his last year at Penn State.
“This year is the step where we need to make that next jump,” Freiermuth said on a conference call with the media Wednesday morning. “We’re not going to be satisfied with (a similar finish to last year).”
The junior tight end is so intent on maintaining his focus that he’s already removing distractions from his life.
“I’ve actually deleted my social media a week ago just to stay away from that and not get my head wrapped around that,” he said. “I need to focus on my time being at Penn State and just try and take full advantage of this. If I don’t have a good season this year, or I don’t perform, it’s all down the drain. It’s just preseason hype. I’ve got to block out the noise.”
Freiermuth’s self-removal from social media and emphasis on this season are cogs in the machine of where he’ll stand by next year’s draft. But the biggest piece is still unknown from an outsider’s perspective: How will he be used in new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca’s offense?
Ciarrocca didn’t utilize tight ends heavily last season when he was Minnesota’s offensive coordinator. The Golden Gophers’ tight ends combined for 10 catches, 88 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in 2019.
Those numbers line up fairly similarly with what Freiermuth did in week two of 2019 when he hauled in eight passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns in Penn State’s 45-13 win over Buffalo.
He’s not concerned, however, and said Ciarrocca and the offense already have plenty of ways to get him involved.
“I love the new offense,” Freiermuth said. “I guess you guys will have to find out about how they’re going to use me. I know, and the coaches know, but I’m not going to leak too many details out. Obviously there’s some rumors about using tight ends, but I promise you I’m going to be used.”
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic could potentially change the shape of Freiermuth’s junior season, with a potential for a reduced number of fans at games or even an altered schedule, but he hasn’t let that change how much he’s preparing.
“Obviously I’ve thought about it but you just kind of block the noise out,” he said. “You have to have that mentality that you have to wake up every single day and you’re going to have a season ... You have to have that mentality to be ready to go.”
His preparation level hasn’t changed, but the way Freiermuth prepares has been modified. The junior tight end called himself a visual learner and has developed a plan to help himself memorize the new offense. He takes notes from his meetings out to a field where he lines up across from his former high school teammates who play off-coverage.
From there, Freiermuth practices the route and the footwork that comes with it, helping himself commit it to memory in as close to a game situation that is available.
Those small practice opportunities are part of a daily routine the Merrimac, Massachusetts, native has developed to keep himself ready for the season.
“I’ve been doing two-a-days,” he said. “I’ve been waking up at 7:45 every morning. I’ll have some coffee, breakfast, and then I’ll go and lift weights with my trainer outside. ... Then I’ll go to meetings, have lunch, then go run some routes and do some field work with my high school quarterback throwing to me.”
Another key part of that routine has been Freiermuth’s chance to watch film of current All-Pro NFL tight ends. He’s watched San Francisco 49er George Kittle and Kansas City Chief Travis Kelce to help himself grow as a player.
“I just kind of pick different things from their game that they’re good at,” he said. “I kind of (think of) myself as a unique tight end. I’m very willing to block and I think I have the ability to win (against) man coverage like Kelce can.”
Freiermuth has shown the ability to reach the same mountain Kittle and Kelce have in the NFL. He’s the team’s returning leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and figures to have an even bigger role in 2020. With the hype built up, and the expectations sky high, it’s up to Freiermuth to prove he’s worthy of the preseason praise he’s trying to ignore.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 5:21 PM.
