Penn State receiver Parker Washington lives up to emerging opportunity

Before the Outback Bowl, Penn State receiver Parker Washington understood the opportunity at hand.

With Jahan Dotson’s career as a Nittany Lion finished, an obvious need existed for an heir within the position group. And in Washington, Penn State head coach James Franklin laid out the terms of what the game, and future, would mean for the sophomore wideout.

“Losing Jahan, everybody knows he was our big-play guy. He has been for the last couple of years. Last year as a punt returner and receiver, this year mainly as a receiver,” Franklin said. “But it’s an opportunity for KeAndre (Lambert-Smith), for Parker, an opportunity for (Malick) Meiga and those guys to step up. 

“It’s not like there’s going to be one guy that’s going to step up and replace that production, it needs to be a little bit of all the guys.”

Stepping up when needed

Delivering a performance that served as one of the few Penn State highlights in a 24-10 loss to the Razorbacks, Washington met the moment.

Finishing with seven receptions for 98 yards on eight targets, the effort left Washington as the highest-graded Nittany Lion offensive performer for the game as graded by PFF. Notching an overall score of 81.7, Washington immediately made his mark with a 42-yard haul on his first catch of the game. 

And in following that catch with two more that constituted chunk plays for Penn State, the production emerged as nearly 30 percent of the Nittany Lions’ explosive plays on the afternoon.

Disappointed by the result but confident in his contribution to the effort, Washington said he looked at the game as an opportunity from which to build.

“I was just happy to have another opportunity to play with our family and our team,” he said. “I feel like it was a learning experience for everybody. We just have to take any momentum we have from this game and mistakes, and just build off of them to be ready for next year.” 

Looking ahead

His second full season at Penn State in the books, Washington will be counted upon to do exactly that this offseason.

Tallying 64 total receptions for 820 yards and four touchdowns on the year, Washington built on his 36 catches for 489 yards and six scores during the 2020 campaign. The second option to Dotson’s ascendant performance in both seasons, Washington is in a position to try to match impacts.

In Dotson’s case, that appears as 143 receptions over the final 21 games of his Penn State career for 2,066 yards and 20 combined touchdowns. And by adding Dotson’s leadership component to the equation, Washington acknowledged the challenge in front of him and the group as a whole with confidence.

“We’re just going to step up where we need to step up. Especially with the other guys, we know they’ll be ready in the [wide receiver] room, as well,” Washington said. “We just have to come in, focus every day, and build on it each day.” 

Further earning the approval and confidence of Penn State’s coaching staff this season, Washington intends to continue that progression coming out of the bowl.

Adding punt returns to his repertoire, collecting one Arkansas boot and eking a 5-yard return out of it, Franklin described the stage as being set for Washington emerging from the performance.

“I think you guys see there’s a lot to be excited about in his future,” Franklin said. “Got tremendous ball skills, he’s smart, he can make people miss. He’s built more like a tailback than he is a running back, which I think helps him in a lot of different situations. 

“Coming in next year, to see Parker and KeAndre do some good things today, that’s going to be important because we’re losing a lot of production in Jahan Dotson.”