Who is the key player for Penn State in 2024? Lady Lions are WBIT bound: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for March 18 include one writer’s pick for the most key Nittany Lion in 2024 and more.
It’s time to dive into Monday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with CBS Sports’ Will Blackus making his picks for the key player on each top 25 team. The outlet ranks Penn State at No. 9 in its latest top 25. And, it picks receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith as the player who is most important to the Lions’ outlook in 2024.
“Wuarterback Drew Allar needs some help,” Blackus writes. “He had an up-and-down first year as a starter. Some of that was on him, but Penn State’s wide receivers deserve blame, too. For his part, Lambert-Smith was the only wide receiver with more than 300 yards and even he struggled with inconsistency with just two catches for 28 yards in Penn State’s final four games. Still, the potential is there for so much more, and he definitely has the highest ceiling among Penn State’s pass catchers.”
Lambert-Smith hopes to lead a receivers room that now includes transfer Julian Fleming and also numerous returners who want to take a step forward in 2024.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had, really, a talent issue at wideout,” Lions coach James Franklin said Tuesday. “If you look at our guys’ athletic numbers, testing numbers, I think it’s as good as anywhere in the country. I think you take that, and now you take another year of experience, I think there are some things we can do offensively to help, as well. And, Marques having his second year as the receivers coach is going to be helpful as well.
Top 10
- 1
Nico Iamaleava update
Josh Heupel provides latest on Tennessee QB
- 2
Kirk calls out trash throwing
Herbstreit: "Enough is enough, clowns"
- 3
Ole Miss storms field
Celebration starts too early after beating Georgia
- 4
Herbstreit 'retired' from CFP show
College football analyst no longer on Tuesday rankings reveal
- 5
Tour of Oxford
Goalposts visit local landmarks after Georgia upset
“Julian Fleming, another local guy that we’ve been able to bring back home, has bought an element of experience [and] maturity, that I think has been really good. He’s approached things the right way since he stepped on campus.”
In other news, the Penn State women’s basketball team is a No. 1 seed in the inaugural WBIT Tournament. The 32-team event starts with on-campus games and concludes with a title game on April 3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Headlines of the day
Penn State CB Johnny Dixon talks dealing with injury, difficult 2024 NFL draft process: McGonigal, PennLive
With Julian Fleming in and multiple players back, Penn State receivers room aims to take the next step this spring: Pickel, BWI
Penn State’s Theo Johnson on Meeting Andy Reid and a Google Interview Question: Wogenrich, SI
Which prospects made it to spring practice at Penn State on Saturday?: Fitz, BWI
Ahead of NFL draft, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu ‘definitely a better player’ after extra year: Haas, Daily Collegian
Recruit Reactions: Top Penn State prospects recap highlights from Saturday’s practice: Snyder, BWI
Quote of the day
“I feel like this last season definitely was different, but for a variety of reasons. One being I was coming off of an All-American season. I feel like opposing teams took it that way and I was not targeted for like half of the season. So that was a learning curve for me. his season taught me a lot. I feel like every season I’ve been here, I learned something new.”
–PSU CB Kalen King to BWI about his 2024 season.
