James Franklin: Penn State football freshman WR Tyseer Denmark has ‘really flashed’

The Penn State football team cannot wait around to see which wide receivers are going to step up. For the most part, the Nittany Lions went through that trial during the 2023 season. This fall, they need to know which players they can count on to contribute to the field. During his media availability on Thursday evening, James Franklin provided an update on true freshman WR Tyseer Denmark and raved about his progress during fall camp.

Tyseer Denmark officially joined the Penn State football team on June 13. Within less than two months, he has been able to adjust to college and make a great impression during fall camp. Following practice on Thursday, James Franklin provided an update on how impressive Denmark has been.

“Tyseer [Denmark] has really flashed and done some really nice things,” Franklin said. “This is very very different so there’s still an adjustment period going on. There’s a pretty significant buzz in the program about him.”

Now, Franklin did not indicate that Denmark would be a starter or break that core rotation. But for a true freshman to get to campus and receive that praise just a few weeks into fall camp, that should excite Penn State fans for the future of wide receiver.

A member of the 2024 recruiting class, Denmark was a commitment flip from Oregon. The Philadelphia native was a three-star prospect who ranked as the No. 11 player in PA and the No. 88 WR nationally according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Franklin on the other true freshman wide receivers

Syndication: Hanover Evening Sun.

While Denmark has impressed the Nittany Lions head coach, where do players such as Josiah Brown and Peter Gonzalez stand in terms of progress? Franklin discussed both true freshman wide receivers with the media on Thursday night as well.

“JB [Josiah Brown] had missed a lot of time,” Franklin stated. “So, he’s still kind of working through that. I know he feels really good, but it’s a lot of time to miss both physically and mentally.”

Brown is from Malverne (New York), and he ranked as the No. 3 player in the state in the 2024 cycle. On3 also listed him as the No. 81 wide receiver in the country.

“Peter [Gonzalez] has been steady eddie. Really smart, knows how to prepare. I think having a dad who played major college football and spent some time in the NFL. He is taking a really smart approach.”

A Pittsburgh native, Gonzalez was a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class. He ranked as the No. 8 player in PA and the No. 56 WR in the cycle according to On3.

Franklin ended his comment on the freshman receivers by saying, “[I’m] really pleased with all three of them.”

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