Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1490816
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 2 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Penn State, preserving his fresh- man eligibility. Tyler Johnson | R-Fr. Redshirted as a true freshman and did not see game action. KeAndre Lambert-Smith | Jr. Caught 24 passes for 389 yards and 4 scores this past season while receiving the third-most targets on the team. He has 73 catches for 1,048 yards and 7 touchdowns in his career to date. Malick Meiga | Jr. Has flashed potential but has yet to break out, with just 6 receptions for 97 yards in two seasons of action. Kaden Saunders | R-Fr. Played against Ohio, Auburn and Utah, finishing the season with 2 catches for 21 yards while preserv- ing his freshman eligibility. Harrison Wallace III | R-So. Ranked fourth in targets among the Nittany Lions' receivers with 35 and turned them into 19 catches for 273 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first season of action. NEWCOMERS Dante Cephus | Sr. Totaled 130 catches for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Kent State before en- tering the transfer portal and com- mitting to Penn State in January. Malik McClain | Jr. Caught 33 passes for 396 yards and 5 touchdowns in two seasons at Florida State. McClain trans- ferred to Penn State in January and is expected to participate in spring practice. Carmelo Taylor | Fr. Was the lone high school re- ceiver to sign with the Lions in the 2023 recruiting cycle. He netted 47 receptions for 943 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at Patrick Henry High in Virginia. KEY LOSS Brenton Strange Declared for the NFL Draft after starting for most of the past three sea- sons and compiling 70 career catches for 755 yards and 11 touchdowns. KEY RETURNEES Jerry Cross | R-Fr. Didn't see any playing time last fall while recovering from an undisclosed injury but reportedly impressed when he got back on the practice field late in the season. Khalil Dinkins | R-So. Appeared in eight games as a redshirt freshman. Dinkins' first career catch was a 28-yard touchdown reception against Ohio in the home opener. Theo Johnson | Jr. Was tied for fifth on the team with 20 catches last season, finishing with 328 yards and 4 touchdowns. Tyler Warren | Jr. Had 10 receptions for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns as a third-year sophomore. NEWCOMERS Mega Barnwell | Fr. Will start out his career at tight end this spring, but at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, he could end up on the offen- sive or defensive line. Andrew Rappleyea | Fr. Was originally committed to Michi- gan but later switched to Penn State and is rated as the No. 6 tight end prospect nationally in the On3 Consensus. Joey Schlaffer | Fr. Totaled 121 receptions for 2,502 yards and 30 touchdowns in a four-year var- sity career at Exeter Township (Pa.) High. 2023 Outlook Even with Brenton Strange leaving for the NFL, Penn State appears to have a deep talent pool at this position group. Between them, juniors Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren have seen action in 59 games over the past three seasons and have both displayed the pass-catching prowess to excel now that their roles are due to expand. Both stand 6-foot-6 and are about 260 pounds, so they have the physical presence Penn State needs. The Lions also have an abundance of exciting young prospects at tight end. Incoming freshman Andrew Rappleyea has gotten some buzz as a candidate for early playing time after amassing 499 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns on just 23 catches in his final season at Milton (Mass.) Academy. But any of the Lions' other freshman-eligible tight ends — Jerry Cross, Joey Schlaffer and Mega Barn- well — could end up playing their way onto the field in 2023, and sophomore Khalil Dinkins will bear watching as well. With Johnson and Warren leading the way, this should be a team strength. — Matt Herb Youthful Potential Lifts PSU's Hopes Theo Johnson led the Nittany Lions with an average of 16.4 yards per catch as a third-year sophomore last season. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE 2023 LOOK AHEAD TIGHT ENDS