Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/730644
IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL DeAndre Thompkins emerges as deep threat in early-season games A year ago, DeAndre Thompkins was a seldom-used redshirt freshman. He caught three passes, carried the ball five times, and saw some time return- ing punts. Through the first two games of the 2016 season, however, the young wideout's role has changed drastically. Thompkins was the Nittany Lions' leading receiver, hav- ing nearly quadrupled his receiving total from last sea- son by racking up 130 yards on four receptions. "It's a big change. I haven't gotten that many reps in re- cent games," Thompkins said. "But I felt good. I al- ways practiced like I was going to get 50-plus reps, so it really wasn't too much of a change [in terms of preparation]. I just had to go out and execute." That opportunistic mindset allowed Thompkins to make the most of his chance when it came. When starting re- ceiver Saeed Blacknall did not dress due to an injury at Pittsburgh, Thompkins got his first shot at extended playing time. He did not let his chance slip away, hauling in three critical passes for 87 yards, includ- 14-year pro career, Norwood emerging as one of the heroes of the Denver Broncos' recent Super Bowl victory (albeit in a spe- cial teams role) and Robinson having al- ready made his first Pro Bowl after only two seasons in the league. But for all their success, it's possible that the Nittany Lions have more wideout talent on hand right now than they've ever had. The usual caveats apply, of course; with the majority of those wide- outs sporting either freshman or sopho- more eligibility, there remains much left to prove. But with the influx of talent in recent years, Franklin and his assistants have created a target-rich environment for their quarterbacks. Godwin and Hamilton are just two options among many, and that, in the end, may be what makes the Nittany Lions' wide receiver corps so formidable. "Honestly, I just think we've got a lot of depth in our group," Godwin said. "There are a lot of guys who can come in in any given moment and actually contribute. We've got a really deep group. I think that's our biggest weapon." ■ EYES ON THE BALL Thompkins spins around to catch a 43-yard pass from Trace McSorley in Penn State's opener against Kent State. The reception, which was the longest of the game, set up a Nittany Lion field goal. Photo by Steve Manuel