Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525333
6 2 S E P T E M B E R 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 F ormer Penn State players dot mul- tiple NFL rosters with training camp now in full swing. Many of those Nittany Lion football alums have been drawing praise in recent weeks, but none of them flashed in the first week of the preseason quite like Parker Washington. Preparing for his second pro season after being chosen in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, Washington enjoyed a showstopping moment in which he proved he's adapting quite nicely to the league's new kickoff rules. Kickoffs will look very different in the NFL this season. In an effort to reduce the full-speed collisions that have been commonplace on kickoffs, coverage teams will now line up at the receiving team's 40-yard line, while the receiving team must have at least seven players between the 35- and 30-yard lines in what is known as the "setup zone." The ball is still kicked off from the 35-yard line, and any ball that lands between the goal line and the receiving team's 20 must be returned. The coverage team can't start running until the kick re- turner fields the ball. In a preseason game Aug. 10 against Kansas City, Washington fielded a boot from Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, then juked right, cut back left and broke several tackles before finding a stretch of open field. His 73-yard scamper nearly resulted in a touchdown, and the Jaguars went on to win, 26-13. "I'm feeling good," Washington told the Jaguars' official website. "That re- turn, I was a little nervous at first, but I like the setup of it. We got a win. It's good to see everything play out. It was an exciting moment." It was the latest sign that he is ready for a bigger role in 2024 after an injury- plagued 2023 season in which he suited up for only nine contests and made a single start. The former Nittany Lion finished his rookie season with 16 catches for 132 yards and 2 scores. Washington did not have a catch in Jacksonville's preseason clash with Kansas City, but teammates have been impressed with the progress he's made in the offseason. " Pa rke r Wa s h i n g to n h a s l o o ke d great," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Law- rence said. "From last year to this year, there is such an improvement in the way he played. "For him to have a full offseason where he's healthy has made a big dif- ference, too. He settled in. To see him this year, it's been cool to see his trans- formation and how good he's been. I've been really impressed. He can move around and kind of do everything, and he's great after the catch. So, that's go- ing to help us a lot. That's the guy I've noticed the most." DOTSON EMBRACES NEW ROLE IN D.C. Former Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson enters his third season with the Washington Commanders in 2024, and it appears that it will be his first as the team's primary slot receiver. Working mostly at the outside receiver position in the Commanders' offense his first two seasons, Dotson tallied 84 re- ceptions for 1,041 yards and 11 touch- Parker Washington Flashes Potential In Jacksonville G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M PSU IN THE PROS Washington signed with Jacksonville in 2023 after being chosen in the sixth round. He was slowed by injuries as a rookie, but in a preseason game against Kansas City earlier this month, he showed he's ready for a bigger role in Year 2. PHOTO COURTESY JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS