Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1519242
M A Y 2 0 2 4 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Senior receiver Julian Fleming decided to hit the transfer portal in hope of engineering a late-career surge, transferring from Ohio State to Penn State in January. The portal has been used by many players in recent years to find bet- ter fits as they approach the final stages of their college eligibility. That's not the only way to do it, though. This year's Nittany Lion team also has a handful of veteran players who have stuck around, looking to have a break- out season at the school where they started. Here's a look at four experienced players with breakout potential — one transfer and three homegrown talents. For the purposes of this article, late-career refers to players entering their fourth year or later. NICK DAWKINS: The most obvious candidate for a late-career breakout is Dawkins. He'll have to win the starting center position first, but he has the inside track due to his stature as a team leader and veteran. Athletically, the redshirt senior offensive lineman may not be on the same level as five-star true freshman Cooper Cousins, but smarts and technique are disproportionately valuable at center. Dawkins has been in Penn State's program since 2020 and has played in 26 games, including all 13 last year. JULIAN FLEMING: A late-career breakout doesn't always coincide with a physical transformation. Opportunity is also essential to this equation, and that's what Fleming sought when he came to Happy Valley in Janu- ary. A 6-foot-2, 209-pound senior, Fleming has one final season to prove his NFL worthiness. Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki doesn't throw the ball at a high rate, but he's proven he can get players open for explosive plays. Fleming has the route-running skills and intelligence to be in the right spot at the right time. That said, there are a lot of mouths to feed on offense, and Fleming will be fighting to get the ball from a crowded collection of talent that includes his fellow receivers, along with junior running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and senior tight end Tyler Warren. COZIAH IZZARD: Despite Penn State's depth at defensive tackle, there's still untapped potential at this position. This is largely due to a series of circumstances, some within his control, that have kept Izzard from fully showcasing his skills. Let's not mistake potential with performance, be- cause Izzard, a senior, has shown glimpses of brilliance during his tenure at Penn State. Standing 6-3, 302 pounds, he has the agility to excel at the three-tech- nique spot, yet his physique is more suited to a nose tackle role. His unique blend of size and maneuverabil- ity could be the key to a breakout season. The obvious roadblock here is Penn State's posi- tional depth at defensive tackle. In junior Zane Durant, the Lions boast another defensive tackle who is having an on-time career breakout. They might not be splitting reps at the same position, but the tackle rotation is a zero-sum game overall. HARRISON WALLACE III: It's crazy to think of Wallace as a veteran in need of a late-career breakout, right? But the facts don't lie, despite what our brains tell us about Wallace and his career arc. He enters his fourth year at Penn State with just 2 career touchdowns and 498 yards. Injuries are a big part of his story, so staying healthy might be Wallace's simple fix. Of the players on this list, he's got the clearest path to a true breakout performance. Head coach James Franklin continually praises him as one of the best athletes on the team. His 7-catch, 72-yard performance against West Virginia to start the 2023 season hinted at something big. But that game counted for nearly half of his catches last year. — Thomas Frank Carr These Players Could Be The Lions' Next Late-Career Breakout Stars Redshirt senior Nick Dawkins has the experience to claim Penn State's starting center position this fall. But first, he must hold off a challenge from true fresh- man Cooper Cousins, a January enrollee. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL