Penn State head coach James Franklin details wide receiver growth ahead of 2024 season
Penn State is just a few days out from the start of its 2024 season, and you won’t find a bigger talking point among fans than what the offense may look like this year. There’s no shortage of excitement when it comes to what new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki may bring, but if they’re going to maximize the philosophies that have made Kotelnicki successful, it’ll come down to the players themselves.
Quarterback Drew Allar will have most of the pressure on his shoulders, but Penn State’s wide receiver room will also be under the spotlight. Players like Trey Wallace, Liam Clifford and Julian Fleming are expected to earn most of the reps against West Virginia this Saturday, but over the course of the season others will need to emerge.
On Monday, head coach James Franklin was asked about what he’s seen from some of the players that’ll make up the second and third spots on Penn State’s depth chart. He said he was excited about the growth he’s seen from a handful of them.
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“I think if you look across the board, a guy like Mehki Flowers has really stepped up for us,” Franklin said. “I think Tyler Johnson has really stepped up for us. I think Anthony Ivey has really stepped up for us.”
Redshirt freshman Kaden Saunders is expected to receive his fair share of reps this upcoming season, but Franklin admitted on Monday that he’s missed time at pracice in recent weeks. It’s unclear if he’ll be able to play against the Mountaineers, although Franklin added that he’s hopeful.
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“Kaden has some bumps and bruises that he’s missed some time, so we’re working through that right now,” Franklin said. “We’re hopeful that he’ll be able to go this week and be full go and be able to factor back in for us.”
If they do miss Saunders, that’ll put added pressure on that second group of receivers if they’re needed this weekend. Franklin said that, as of now, the goal is to make sure those three specifically can contribute at some point this season.
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“That is a critical group for us,” Franklin said, referring to Flowers, Johnson, Ivey and the other young receivers on the roster. “I would like for it to be in game one, but the reality is, even if it could be for some of those guys in game three or game four or game five, and that’s a big discussion we had this morning in our staff meeting, we got to identify guys that we say, ‘Ok, maybe they’re not ready for whatever reason, physically, mentally or emotionally today, but these guys we need to be ready by game five of the season.’
“It’s obvious to pinpoint and be able to single out the guys that are ready right now, but who are the guys that we need to continue to pour into them and develop them that will be ready by game five of the season or some time around there. So, those are guys that I think we really need to step up for us but have shown enough that you’re excited for what they’re going to be. I would say Tyseer Denmark, for a new player, is in the conversation as well.”
