Penn State coach James Franklin talks Dante Cephas' progress as Lions look for gains at receiver
Penn State brought Dante Cephas in as a transfer portal addition this offseason. Hopes were high that the former Kent State standout would factor into the Nittany Lions’ receiver rotation quickly despite not arriving until the summer. However, through eight games and a 7-1 start, he has the third-most snaps at the position with 191 (KeAndre Lambert-Smith leads the way with 447) but is sixth in receptions overall with 11, yards with 146, and has yet to find the end zone.
The Nittany Lions may be without No. 2 receiver Harrison “Trey” Wallace III this week at Maryland. It has lacked a third receiver option all year. And, with Wallace III being in and out of the lineup, Penn State has struggled with consistency and availability at the position. It all led to a question Wednesday night after practice about Cephas’ development so far since he arrived in State College.
“I think sometimes, these transfers, it’s a little bit like junior college players,” Franklin said. “Wherem typically the second half of the year, they really start to get more comfortable and come on. Or, sometimes you have the opportunity to get them for a second year and that’s really valuable. We’ve been fortunate with COVID to get some of those junior college guys for three years. But there’s value in that, obviously.
More: Practice notes before Maryland: Offense | Defense
“So, he’s getting more comfortable. He’s getting more confident. This is more of a, I don’t necessarily want to speak about his last situation, but I think we put a little bit more on the guys in terms of splits, in terms of route adjustments, in terms of, just responsibilities. But, he’s gotten more and more comfortable, and more and more confident, as he’s gotten more reps and gotten more opportunities. That’s been a positive. But, that’s really the biggest thing. He shows flashes that obviously he can do some really good things. It’s about the consistency that I keep talking about.”
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Penn State seeks consistency at receiver
With or without Wallace III on Saturday, the Terrapins have already made clear that they, like many other Penn State opponents this season, will aim to stop the Lions’ ground game and instead force them to win through the air. It’s why the program continues to strive to find consistent play from its pass catchers week in and week out.
“The two things that you guys don’t get to see is practice, and we’re looking for that consistency physically, looking for that consistency mentally,” Franklin said Tuesday. “Is there are times where you don’t understand why a guy comes out of the game, but you don’t realize he had a couple missed assignments and you don’t know what his assignment is?
“So I think those two things probably are the biggest factor of impacting playing time and rotation and those types of things.”
