James Franklin calls out reporters for lack of praise for Penn State wide receivers
The lack of production from the Penn State wide receiver room was hammered home by the media last season. The Nittany Lions had only one wideout with more than 250 receiving yards, after all. That was KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and he transferred to Auburn this spring.
The question became, will Penn State surround quarterback Drew Allar with enough weapons in 2024?
So far, it looks like Allar is much closer to realizing his potential than he was last year, and an improved group of wideouts is certainly a factor. So is first-year Nittany Lions offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who joined Penn State head coach James Franklin after helping revamp the Kansas offense.
Franklin was asked this week for his assessment of his team’s wideouts through three games.
“I’ve been pleased with the step that we’ve taken,” Franklin said before noting that he’s “kind of surprised” that his football communications team hasn’t showed him “a ton of articles” about Penn State’s wideouts and their growth overseen by receivers coach Marques Hagans.
“Because there sure was a bunch of articles when they didn’t play up to people’s thoughts and standards,” Franklin added.
“But, overall, I’ve been pleased with what they’ve been able to do. We got to continue to build it, build their confidence and build their production. I [don’t] think it’s hard to argue that they may be the most improved position on the team right now, and let’s be honest with it, we needed that to happen.”
Franklin continued: “So I think that was fair. I’m not saying that some of the things that were written and said in the past weren’t fair. But, again, just like as coaches, if we’re going to be critical, then they should be praised when they’re doing some really good things, which I think they are.”
While tight end Tyler Warren has gobbled up 16 receptions — at least double the amount of any other Nittany Lions player — four different wideouts have at least 60 receiving yards.
The group is headlined by Omari Evans, who is second on the team with 205 receiving yards. He went over the century mark last week against Kent State. Evans has scored in two straight games, and he’s recorded 50-plus-yard receptions in a pair of outings this year.
Then there’s Trey Wallace, who bounced back from an injury-riddled 2023 campaign by starring in the opener with 117 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Fellow Nittany Lions wideouts Liam Clifford and Julian Fleming each have three grabs for 60 yards and change this year, with Clifford finding the end zone against Kent State.
No. 9 Penn State’s wideouts will be up against an intriguing Illinois secondary this week in a top-20 matchup. The No. 19 Fighting Illini are allowing 188 passing yards per game, good for 50th-fewest nationally. What’s more, three different Illinois defensive backs have at least two interceptions this season. Cornerback Xavier Scott leads that trio with three picks, not to mention a forced fumble.
“I think, this week, we’ll be challenged, and we got to put them in the best position we possibly can to be successful,” Franklin said of his team’s wideouts. “They got to continue to get better and compete and be aggressive.
“I think we’re at our best at that wide receiver position when those guys are being aggressive, and I’ve seen it more consistently in practice. I’m seeing it more consistently in games, and I think you guys are as well.”