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Why Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth is being compared to retired Patriots star Rob Gronkowski

Penn State freshman tight end Pat Freiermuth has had a successful freshman year, and coach James Franklin talks about his maturity during an October press conference. By

Pat Freiermuth’s first choice wasn’t to wear No. 87 at Penn State. When the tight end arrived in Happy Valley last summer, No. 89 wasn’t available, and he didn’t want No. 88 for fear of being linked to Mike Gesicki his entire career.

But as a result, the Massachusetts kid is being compared by his high school buddies at the Brooks School to not only an NFL tight end, but one of the best — if not the greatest — to ever play the position: Former New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski.