It won’t take long to predict who the starting wide receivers will be in 2021 for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State’s top three wide receivers from a year ago are back and figure to lock down the starting roles at the various receiver positions once again in 2021.
Among those leading receivers returning is Jahan Dotson. Dotson was the Big Ten’s leading receiver in 2020 with 884 receiving yards in nine games. Dotson also tied for the Big Ten lead in touchdown receptions (eight) with Purdue’s David Bell. Dotson is still sitting behind a handful of very talented wide receivers around the Big Ten on the national radar, perhaps because he benefitted from his Big Ten-leading stats by playing in more games than most other receivers around the conference. But Dotson is no player you want to overlook.
The 2020 season also saw the rise of Parker Washington as the team’s second-leading receiver. Washington is expected to be the second receiving option once again this fall, with KeAndre Lambert-Smith the most likely candidate to be the third starting receiver on the field for the Nittany Lions.
Finding playmakers has been a goal for the Penn State staff this offseason. Marquis Wilson has been given the opportunity to make some plays on offense, a luxury Penn State has the option of playing with considering the depth in the defensive secondary.
Here’s what the depth chart at wide receiver may look like for the Penn State offense this fall.