Penn State football: James Franklin publicly challenges WRs once again

They say history doesn’t repeat, but it sure does rhyme. And for Penn State football, the rhythm is starting to pick up once again. Much like last year, the success or failure of the offense in 2024 could hinge on the ability of the Nittany Lion wide receivers to take that next step. And much like last year, we could spend most of the offseason wondering who will take that next step first. The beleaguered unit was a hot topic of discussion when James Franklin took the microphone following spring practice No. 7 Tuesday night. But while there were some glimmers of optimism, the Nittany Lions head coach was once again publicly calling on his pass catchers to do more.

James Franklin is looking for wide receivers to “separate themselves from the pack”

There are many new faces around the Penn State football program in 2024. From three new coordinators to a wave of highly recruited transfer portal additions, hope, well, springs eternal in Happy Valley.

But there’s still plenty of work to be done. On the offensive side of the ball, the Nittany Lions are looking for playmakers to emerge in the passing game. While James Franklin says he’s seen improvement from the much-maligned room this offseason, he’s still hoping for more.

“I think the whole group, from what I’ve seen, is improved,” Franklin said on Tuesday. “…I still would like to see a group of guys really kind of separate themselves from the pack. I think the whole group has improved. But, I’d like to see a couple guys kind of kind of separate themselves and make it clearly obvious to everybody. I think we need a little bit more of that.”

If that phrasing, “separate themselves from the pack,” sounds familiar, it’s because James Franklin made the same exact call to the unit ahead of last season. The result? A room with only one player above 250 yards receiving, only two receivers with more than two touchdown receptions, and a unit that was, for all intents and purposes, nonexistent in the biggest games of the season.

Who is Penn State football looking to step up in 2024?

For the most part, the hopes of an improved receiver room will be pinned on a former Ohio State Buckeye, graduate transfer Julian Fleming. Perhaps the most discussed player in the Penn State football program since his arrival in January, James Franklin continued his praise of Fleming on Tuesday evening.

“The guys love him,” he said, in part. “He’s been awesome as a teammate. He’s been really coachable…I don’t want to speak for Julian, but it seems like it’s been really good in terms of just energy, morale, and expectations.”

The returning Nittany Lion with the most momentum is likely redshirt junior Trey Wallace. Wallace battled injuries throughout 2023, but was a spark to the Penn State passing attack when he was on the field. He was one of only two wide receivers to record a reception in the Peach Bowl, hauling in four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

“Trey’s always been kind of super athletic. Losing him last year for a period of time like we did, I thought that hurt us,” Franklin said Tuesday. “…But, Trey has been good. He’s been one of our guys that we viewed as the starter now for a while. And like I already mentioned, losing him last year, that was a significant blow.”

Penn State also returns its leading receiver from last season, KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The senior has shown homerun ability throughout his career but has battled consistency. Lambert-Smith’s production dropped significantly at the end of 2023, recording just two receptions over the Nittany Lions’ final three games last year. He went much of that stretch without so much as a target.

So, it’s a new year, but it could be shaping up to be the same story for Penn State football. There’s a long way to go until kickoff in Morgantown, but the tune is starting to sound eerily similar.

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