Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520787
2 2 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M C oming off a disappointing finish to the 2021 season, Penn State enjoyed a bounce-back 2022 campaign. The Nittany Lions capped an 11-2 season with a Rose Bowl victory over Utah, capital- izing on a well-balanced offensive attack that finished 19th nationally in scoring. But even as it was putting the finishing touches on one of the most successful seasons of the James Franklin coaching era, Penn State also understood that it had an issue just under the surface on the offensive side of the ball. After a run of successful wide receiver play that produced NFL Draft picks Chris Godwin, DaeSean Hamilton, KJ Hamler, Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington, the Nittany Lions' recruitment and devel- opment at that position group went off course. Receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield was relieved of his duties shortly into the 2023 calendar year and was quickly replaced by Virginia's Marques Hagans. Meanwhile, Washington declared early for the NFL and was taken in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. As a result, rising fourth-year senior KeAndre Lambert- Smith was propped up as the best hope, with continued development, to become the Nittany Lions' next star receiver. To complement him in that effort, the staff turned to transfer Dante Cephas, a first- team All-Mid-American Conference per- former during his time at Kent State. Those hopes never came to fruition. Now, five months after its disappoint- ing results, Penn State has a radically re- shaped operation as it looks toward the 2024 season. Comings And Goings To understand why the receivers are still considered to be the offense's most uncertain variable, we need to examine the results of the 2023 season. With sophomore quarterback Drew Al- lar at the helm, Penn State finished 77th Clearing Clearing The Air The Air Eager to put recent difficulties behind it, Penn State continues to seek answers at wide receiver NAT E BAU E R | N AT E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M Harrison Wallace III is healthy again after an injury-plagued redshirt sophomore season in which he missed five games and finished with 19 catches for 228 yards. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL