State College’s star wide receiver finds his collegiate home. ‘Loves to compete’

While State College multi-sport athlete Ty Salazer’s first love was basketball, football is how he’s achieved his dream of becoming a college athlete.

The 2024 Pennsylvania 6A Player of the Year has committed to Delaware to play football after receiving offers from several schools. Delaware is moving to the FBS in 2025 and Salazer felt it offered him the best opportunities in what was a stressful recruiting process.

“[The campus] had a really good vibe and a really good feel when I was there, and I think the coaching staff is amazing,” Salazer said. “They have a winning program just like we’ve been trying to build in State College, so it’s very familiar to me.”

Growing up with a father who’s been the athletic trainer for the Penn State basketball team for over 20 years now, Salazar always thought basketball was his ticket to collegiate athletics. While he played for the Little Lions on the varsity team for three seasons, he said at 5 feet, 11 inches, he never got as tall as he wanted.

Matt Lintal, State College Area High School’s football coach, always saw Salazer’s potential on the gridiron — even when the wide receiver was a freshman, which was high approval. Only Salazar and two others in the 2025 graduating class can say they were four-year starters for the Little Lions.

“[Salazer] is a kid that just loves to compete,” Lintal said. “He’s checked every box that you could possibly check to be a kid that produces opportunities for himself.”

He was a key piece on the State College team that made it to the quarterfinals of the PIAA 6A State Championship this past season. As a wide receiver, defensive back and a kick/punt returner, Salazer had a strong influence in all three phases of the game.

Salazer broke the school’s receiving record his junior year, and shattered that mark in his final season, recording 1,639 yards on 79 receptions.

It’s not abnormal for high school football players to play multiple positions, but Lintal said it’s rare to leave such a big impact on each one.

“To be able to do that at such a high level when he’s exhausted and he’s got 200 yards receiving in the first half and he’s going right back out there on defense,” Lintal said. “Those are the critical mental aspects of being able to perform at the high level when your team needs you.”

The time he played cornerback or safety influenced the aggression and skill set Salazer has as a wideout.

“I understand what the guy across from me is going to do,” Salazer. “[Playing defense] makes me a harder receiver, it makes me a more aggressive player and you need that edge, especially at the next level.”

At Delaware, Salazer intends to major in finance. He’s always excelled athletically, whether it be the gridiron, the basketball court, or the lacrosse field, but his academic achievements are nothing short of exceptional.

With a 4.5 GPA, Salazer takes some of the hardest classes State High offers, including AP Calculus. Academics has remained a key focus, even when he has to miss some classes for football or basketball games.

“He’s doing all the things that he needs to do to be prepared on test day, and that’s not normal,” Lintal said. “That’s a very diligent young man to create that expectation for himself when he could certainly push things off and create extra time and extra days to take those tests.”

As for Salazar, he said he’s able to handle all of his responsibilities by following the piece of advice Lintal has instilled in him: “Be where your feet are.”

As a three-sport athlete, he gives his all in every season. Football might be the one sport he will get to play after he graduates, but he’s trying to stay in the moment for his final basketball and lacrosse seasons.

“When I leave to go to practice, I’m giving 110%, when I switch seasons, I’m into that sport and I’m giving 110% no matter what,” Salazer said. “You know, it’s tough but it all works out.”