Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1529598
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 31 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M gets for 47 yards). That wasn't enough to stave off an eighth consecutive loss to the Buckeyes. Staying Connected Penn State had brought back much of the same personnel from last season, and while offensive coordinator Andy Ko- telnicki was new, the struggles were all too familiar. Seeking productivity and consistency, Franklin urged the team's wideouts to meet the moment. "There's still more work to do. That [Ohio State] game is an example of that," he said. "We've got to be able to threaten people. We've got to be able to stretch people. We've got to be able to make plays and create separation and make tough catches. That needs to happen. I think that needs to be an emphasis really for the rest of the season. "Being able to run the ball more con- sistently in traditional running sets with traditional running backs, and being able to make more plays in the passing game at the wide receiver position — that's going to be really important long-term for this season and where we want to go." The Lions bounced back from the Ohio State loss with a 35-6 rout of Washing- ton, and Franklin saw reason for opti- mism in the win. With Wallace and Clif- ford each contributing explosive plays, the Nittany Lion wideouts combined to make 8 catches for 123 yards and a touch- down. Penn State will be looking for more of that in the final weeks of the regular season and whatever may come after- ward. Hagans has said that "staying con- nected" has been a priority, noting that his players need to lean on each other amid the season's challenges. "It's something we talk about a lot in our room, just playing for each other," Hagans said. "Every day, that's the em- phasis, and it will continue to be so mov- ing forward. We want to do whatever the team needs from us to help win and just show up every day prepared to work at the highest level possible." ■ Class of 2014 Freshmen Name GP Rec. Yds. TD Chris Godwin 40 154 2,421 18 Saeed Blacknall 46 50 979 7 DeAndre Thompkins 52 83 1,245 6 Class of 2015 Freshmen Irvin Charles 25 3 110 1 Juwan Johnson 37 81 1,123 2 Brandon Polk 40 27 367 4 Class of 2016 Freshman Dae'Lun Darien* 16 0 0 0 Class of 2017 Freshmen KJ Hamler 26 98 1,658 13 Mac Hippenhammer 20 7 188 1 Cam Sullivan-Brown 37 17 163 0 Class of 2018 Freshmen Jahan Dotson 42 183 2,757 25 Justin Shorter 14 15 157 0 Class of 2019 Freshmen John Dunmore 1 0 0 0 TJ Jones 8 0 0 0 Class of 2020 Freshmen Jaden Dottin 5 2 14 0 KeAndre Lambert-Smith 57 160 2,378 7 Malick Meiga 29 9 106 1 Parker Washington 32 146 1,920 12 Transfer Norval Black 0 0 0 0 Class of 2021 Freshmen Liam Clifford** 34 36 485 1 Harrison Wallace III** 34 69 1,034 5 Class of 2022 Freshmen Cristian Driver* 10 1 8 0 Omari Evans** 32 21 387 4 Mehki Flowers** 13 0 0 0 Anthony Ivey** 9 1 15 0 Tyler Johnson** 8 0 0 0 Kaden Saunders** 19 8 77 1 Transfer Mitchell Tinsley 13 51 577 5 Class of 2023 Freshman Carmelo Taylor 2 0 0 0 Transfers Dante Cephas 12 22 246 2 Malik McClain 13 6 71 1 Class of 2024 Freshmen Josiah Brown** 0 0 0 0 Tyseer Denmark** 2 1 13 0 Peter Gonzalez** 0 0 0 0 Transfer Julian Fleming 10 13 171 1 * Changed positions during Penn State career ** Currently active with Nittany Lions Liam Clifford enjoyed a big afternoon in Penn State's win over UCLA in early October, finishing with 107 yards on only 3 catches. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS Franklin-Era Wide Receiver Signees