James Franklin talks lack of Penn State WR production in Notre Dame loss

The Achilles heel of Penn State football for the better part of the last 24 months, the Nittany Lions’ issues at wide receiver reared their ugly head again in Thursday’s 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

One of the Nittany Lions’ worst passing performances of the season, Penn State saw no production from its receiver room in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Penn State was 0-5 on attempts to receivers against the stout Fighting Irish defense, which came into the contest No. 5 against the pass in 2024.

“Yeah, we tried a couple [passes] early on in the game and weren’t able to convert them, tightly contested coverage,” James Franklin said of the performance from his receivers after the game. “They’re a man coverage team.

“But yeah, that’s a storyline of the game. That’s one of the storylines. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. But early on we had some throws, tightly contested balls that we didn’t come down with. So again, give them some credit.”

However, the issues in the room extend beyond Thursday night in South Beach. In its three losses this season, Penn State receivers caught eight passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Even amid its successful playoff run, only six percent of the Nittany Lions’ last 270 offensive snaps ended in a wide receiver catch.

Penn State football again looking to address needs at wide receiver via the transfer portal

Even before the Orange Bowl performance, Penn State football was already looking to upgrade at wide receiver.

The Nittany Lions have landed a pair of receivers out of the transfer portal this winter, signing ex-USC and Troy receivers Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross last month. Both Hudson and Ross will be on campus for winter workouts as Penn State prepares to transition to the 2025.

Hudson is coming off his most productive of four seasons for the Trojans, catching 38 passes for 462 yards and three touchdowns.

His most prolific year at Troy, Ross caught 76 passes for 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns (fifth most in the FBS) as a junior this fall.

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