Blue White Illustrated

S aeed Blacknall isn't rushing it. The Nittany Lion junior wideout has just two seasons of eligibility remaining with the program, but he's putting no additional pressure on himself to have a big year in the months ahead. Instead he's focused on continuing the evolution that typically accompanies the transition from freshman to sophomore, sophomore to junior and beyond. The goal, he said, is to "always take steps forward and not take steps backward and just continue to learn mentally and physically in this game. For me in year three… it's just like everything is just starting to come together. The mental as- pect and everything is really all well put together right now." Praised by head coach James Franklin for his progress, Blacknall saw those steps lead to positive results this spring. He was coming off a sophomore season in which he finished third on the team in receiving yards with 248 but seventh in catches with only eight. In hope of boost- ing his productivity this coming season, Blacknall immersed himself in the com- plexities of Joe Moorhead's system, learn- ing what would be expected of him in the Nittany Lions' new offense. "Just learning concepts, not only know- ing what you have on certain plays but trying to figure out what other people have around you and then just learning the whole concept and why the play that has been called or whatever the system is, why you called them, why they're put in place. Just understanding everything as a whole," said Blacknall said. "I feel like as I learn to do that, I can understand why if I run this route it will open up the back side route, and that's why our offense will be successful." It worked well in the Blue-White Game. Blacknall finished with a game-high five catches for 45 yards, and he caught a 22- yard touchdown pass from Trace McSorley in the second quarter. On the TD reception, Blacknall had to adjust to the ball, which McSorley floated over cornerback Amani Oruwaryi to the far right edge of the end zone. The wideout had initially turned inside but then dipped back outside and tapped both feet down in bounds for the score. "I don't know what it is about that corner, but it just caused a play," he said. "It was a double move. [McSorley] just padded me outside and I adjusted to it." Blacknall, who recently won the Red Worrell Award as the team's most improved offensive player, said he's hoping to parlay PITCH AND CATCH Saeed Blacknall strives to diversify his game LONG AND SHORT OF IT Blacknall's success on deep throws could help open up his short game and make him a more effective wideout. He had a game-high five catches for 45 yards in the Blue-White Game. Photo by Steve Manuel

• Cover