James Franklin details progress of transfer WR Dante Cephas

James Franklin spoke today at Penn State football media day, and the inevitable question about the wide receiver room came up, given the uncertainty of the position heading into the 2023 season. The Nittany Lions will need someone to step up after the departure of leading receivers Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley from last season. Who steps up as the wide receiver No. 1 and how the depth chart shakes out will be something to monitor closely throughout fall camp. During press availability on Sunday afternoon, Franklin shed light on one of the newcomers that many think could claim that spot this fall, transfer wide receiver Dante Cephas.

Is depth a concern for the Penn State wide receiver room?

When asked about the quality of the wide receiver room this year, Franklin believes that, while there isn’t a defined depth chart yet for the Penn State football team, plenty of players are competing for playing time.

“I think wide receiver is a position that I wouldn’t necessarily say we have a two-deep or three-deep defined yet, but I think we have a good number of guys that are legitimately are competing for that third spot. There are probably eight guys that are in that competition,” Franklin said on Sunday afternoon. That lack of a defined No. 1 wide receiver is the reason that Penn State went out and got a player like Dante Cephas in the transfer portal.

How has Dante Cephas progressed since arriving on campus?

James Franklin had some thoughts about incoming wide receiver Dante Cephas and how he has been progressing since arriving on campus in May. “He’s done some really good things,” Franklin said. “He has gotten bigger. He has gotten stronger. The guys like him; the guys have a ton of respect for him. He’s shown flashes; I do think there is an adjustment period he is going through because it is one thing to do it two or three times a season when you are watching him play an opponent like Georgia. It’s another to do it week in and week out in the Big Ten.”

This need for time to adjust shouldn’t come as a surprise to many, as the step up in play from the MAC to the Big Ten is a large jump. Going through fall camp against what should be one of the better secondaries in the conference should help Cephas as he prepares to play talented Big Ten defenses every week.

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