The latest NFL news out of State College and the Bay Area centers on Khalil Dinkins, a Penn State tight end who just signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He’s got $275,000 guaranteed, which isn’t bad for someone who slipped past the draft.
For Marin County readers, this is a story that ties a Penn State pipeline to the Bay Area’s football scene. Local fans in places like San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Novato are already wondering how Dinkins might fit in behind star tight end George Kittle.
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Khalil Dinkins signs with the 49ers: from Penn State tight end to Bay Area depth chart
The 6’4”, 251-pound tight end from Wexford, Pennsylvania, joins the 49ers after five years with the Nittany Lions. As an undrafted free agent, Dinkins locked in $275,000 guaranteed, which suggests the 49ers see something in his blocking and maybe a bit of pass-catching upside.
Marin County fans are used to scouting reports on players making the leap from Eastern colleges to the Bay. Dinkins’ name has already sparked some chatter from Sausalito to San Anselmo.
A Penn State path: North Allegheny to the Nittany Lions
Dinkins grew up in the Pittsburgh area but stayed in Pennsylvania for college. He earned a letterman spot for four years at North Allegheny High School, then moved on to Penn State.
He played in 48 games with the Nittany Lions, finishing with 37 catches for 399 yards and seven touchdowns. His senior year was his best, with 167 receiving yards and two touchdowns—enough to get NFL scouts’ attention, even if there are questions about whether his frame can handle NFL defensive ends over time.
At the NFL Combine, Dinkins measured 6’4” and 251 pounds, ran a 4.72-second 40-yard dash, and jumped 32.5 inches vertically. Scouts like his versatility as a run blocker, a skill the 49ers value in a tight end who can help on early downs and in short-yardage spots.
George Kittle gets most of the offense’s production, but San Francisco’s system leans on having more than one tight end who can block. Dinkins might just squeeze into that mix.
What the numbers say about his NFL projection
On the field, Dinkins looks like a depth option who can help with blocking and chip in as an occasional receiver. Is his size enough to hold up against the league’s toughest edges? That’s the big question, but his length and willingness to block give him a shot to stick around, especially when training camp opens in Santa Clara.
Here are the key stats and facts you’ll want to know as Dinkins chases a roster spot in the 49ers’ tight end room:
- Height/Weight: 6’4”, 251 pounds
- College: Penn State
- Games played: 48
- Receptions/Yards/TDs: 37 receptions, 399 yards, 7 TDs
- Best year: Senior year with 167 receiving yards and 2 TDs
- 40-yard dash: 4.72 seconds
- Vertical: 32.5 inches
- Strengths: Run blocking, frame, willingness to engage at the point of attack
- Projected role: Depth tight end behind Kittle; special teams value as development continues
The Bay Area angle: Marin County’s eyes on the 49ers
For Marin County, the Dinkins signing feels like another chapter in the Bay Area football story. In towns like San Rafael and Novato, folks take real pride when a local or regional athlete makes the leap to the NFL.
San Anselmo’s coffee shops and Tiburon’s gyms buzz about players who might contribute on Sundays. Dinkins’ journey from North Allegheny to PSU and now to San Francisco fits that narrative pretty well.
Whether or not he’s a San Rafael High School alum, fans in Mill Valley and Corte Madera keep up with Apple TV updates and local news to track his progress through spring practices and the summer camp circuit.
Marin County media, along with the Bay Area sports beat, will point out that Dinkins is the third Nittany Lion to sign as an undrafted free agent this year. He joins Devonte Ross and Nick Dawkins.
That Penn State presence means something for local fans who follow the latest from State College to Santa Clara. There’s always hope that one of these developing players might turn into a steady contributor on offense or special teams.
The 49ers’ tight end room is a tough crowd, with Kittle’s dominance hard to ignore. Still, every UDFA like Dinkins gives Marin County football fans another reason to root for a homegrown path to the NFL.
Here is the source article for this story: Report: Khalil Dinkins Signs With San Francisco 49ers As Undrafted Free Agent
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