Blue White Illustrated

>> to have at least 15 catches, 200 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the team's 2rst four games. Stubble2eld said one of the keys to Washington's early success has been his dedicated approach to the 2ne details of getting open down2eld. "He loves run- ning routes," Stubble2eld said. "There's a tremendous amount of joy, especially playing that inside receiver position, in just routing somebody up – when you run a route that's just so juicy it makes you smile at the end of the catch. I think he's getting a lot of pride in himself in being the best route-runner in the Big Ten. That's what he wants to be, and then, ob- viously, one of the best route-runners in the country. He has that ability, he has that drive, he has that 2re." Washington isn't the only true fresh- man receiver who has made an impact for Penn State this fall. Classmate KeAndre Lambert-Smith was fourth on the team heading into the Michigan game with seven catches for 78 yards. Lambert-Smith also broke into the starting lineup this season, but he didn't stay there. He started the Maryland game ahead of redshirt sophomore Daniel George in week three, but the coaches went back to George in week four. Still, the 6-1, 185-pound Lambert-Smith has given the Nittany Lions a down2eld threat to complement Dotson. "I think Dre's ceiling is extremely high," Stubble2eld said. "He demonstrates the ability to be very explosive, he has some size to him, and he catches the ball pretty gosh dang well. "The biggest thing that we've seen from him is his competitiveness. No matter whether he's going up against a freshman or going against a senior, no matter if it's a tire-pull drill or a one-on-one rep, he is extremely, extremely competitive. We've talked about being able to channel all of that competitiveness to make sure we're using it the best way that we can. He will work, he will 3at-out work, and you like that. One of our core values is a great work ethic, and he de2nitely embodies that in the way he approaches the game." In the weeks ahead, a5er the Big Ten's COVID-wracked 2020 season is over, Penn State will begin breaking down its performance in order to 2gure out what went so drastically wrong. In the process, the sta4 will also examine what went right and work to build on those successes in 2021. One of the successes has been the performance of the Lions' young wide- outs, and no one is more eager than Dotson to see them continue their development. "It's pretty cool to see, just because I knew what those guys were capable of doing," Dotson said. "When you know that someone on the side of you can make a play at any time, at any point in the game, it's an amazing feeling. It's pres- sure that's li5ed o4 of your shoulders when you don't have to always be that guy, when there are other guys around you who we can always go to. That's just great for us. It's just going to make us bet- ter as an o4ense." ■ Statement of Ownership for Blue White Illustrated

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