Pat Freiermuth is going to be one of the most dangerous weapons in college football next season. The Penn State tight end was already considered to be one of the best players at his position last year, so his decision to return to Happy Valley was a big boost for the Nittany Lions.

Freiermuth caught 43 passes for 507 yards and seven touchdowns last season for a team that finished with an 11-2 record. After such a big year on the field, many expected the tight end to declare for the NFL Draft. Instead, he wanted one more season at Penn State.

Now, he believes can develop into the nation’s top tight end in 2020.

“I’m very confident in myself as a player that I can become the best tight end in the country,” Freiermuth said in a Zoom meeting, according to Audrey Snyder of The Athletic.

Penn State’s offense will be going through some changes this offseason, as former offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne took the head coaching job at Old Dominion. Before the Cotton Bowl, the Nittany Lions were able to land Minnesota’s Kirk Ciarrocca as the team’s new OC.

There will be some adjustments during the summer and fall in State College.

But Freiermuth has already proven himself as a strong pass-catching tight end at the college level. He’s totaled 875 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons and will be a key target for quarterback Sean Clifford again this season.

If Freiermuth can establish himself as the unquestioned best tight end in college football, it could result in hearing his name called in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft.