Penn State's 2023 Wildcards

By this point, it’s well known that Penn State is everyone’s favorite dark horse for the 2023 season. Led by an incredibly talented defense and running game, Penn State has the stars and veterans to push for a college football playoff spot.

But just a bit further down the depth chart and slightly out of the spotlight reside a group of players that can help make those dreams a reality. They’re mostly younger players with unproven games but plenty of talent. Here are Penn State’s wildcard players.

Penn State wildcard players

Cam Miller

Cam Miller came to Penn State as a former high school quarterback with essentially one year of full-time experience at cornerback. While his athleticism was never in question, his positional skills remain a mystery. But, like Evans, he has the tools and the spot on the depth chart to be a factor next Fall. Miller has been ahead of schedule in his development since last Fall. But can he play the role of Johnny Dixon from last season and push for much more playing time than Penn State fans expect?

Kaleb Artis

Kaleb Artis didn’t get much experience playing football in high school thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic, followed by an injury his senior season. So every day that passes in a college football program is one step closer to unlocking his significant potential. He’s applied himself this offseason and played well for the White team during the Blue-White game. He’s big, hard to move, and active on the defensive line.

But can he bridge the gap from flashing talent to consistent production? If he can, there are snaps at defensive tackle with his name on them.

Offensive players

Omari Evans

According to Penn State head coach Jame Franklin, Omari Evans “took a step” during the final few spring practices, culminating in a standout performance during the Blue-White Game. Up to this point, Evans was an incredibly talented but unformed ball of clay. But after 18 months on campus, shapes are emerging from the form. Still, it’s too early to know what Evans will be for the team in September. Can he be more than an occasional deep threat? Will he be a physical receiver that fights for balls at the catch point? There are so many facets to the receiver position that it’s hard to know enough about Evans right now.

There’s still time for Evans to progress as a football player, and while he’s already part of the conversation as an outside receiver, he can be a much bigger factor at one of the most critical positions on the roster.

Vega Ioane

Truthfully there are several interior linemen you could lump in with Vega Ionae. But at 350-plus pounds with shocking athleticism, Ioane could be a transformative player on the Penn State offensive line. Starting right guard Saleem Wormley made it clear that he’s not giving up his starting spot by playing well this spring, but that doesn’t mean Ioane should be relegated to the bench. Franklin and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein aren’t shy about playing multiple linemen that they think deserve starting time. It’s hard to not get carried away thinking about what Ioane could do for the team next season.

Drew Allar

Even though Drew Allar is squarely in the spotlight for Penn State, he remains a wildcard. We think we know what Allar can be, but we’ve only seen glimpses of his abilities. Being the starting quarterback means being locked in on every single play, and flashes of great execution aren’t enough to get Penn State where they want to be next Fall. So can Alllar execute the offense well enough by game three to face Illinois on the road? His development will determine the team’s ceiling.

Bonus: Incoming freshmen

We’re singling out tight end Andrew Rappleyea, safety Dakaari Nelson and corner/safety King Mack as incoming freshmen with the talent to play. Nelson and King could carve out sub-package roles for themselves on the defensive side of the ball despite the depth in that area. It’s hard to think of a fourth tight end as an impact player, but at 247 pounds, Rappleyea could challenge for snaps beyond that. However, it’s too soon to tell for any of these players.