After the 2023 season, Penn State made it a priority to work in the offseason to find ways to get more out of its wide receivers in 2024. Despite losing some players to the transfer portal, including the team’s leading receiver, Penn State hired a new offensive coordinator and added a key transfer as part of a plan to revamp the offense’s production this fall. And with the first game of the season now just days away, head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] seems to be gaining confidence in his wide receiver group.
“I would say wide receiver. I would say quarterback. I would say offensive line, specifically obviously with the offensive lineman that we lost to the NFL last year. I would say those three positions,” Franklin said during his weekly press conference this week, also noting the improvement of the offensive line and quarterback groups. “I think everybody had pretty good idea who we were at tight end, who we were at running back, so I would say those three positions, and really the three positions we needed to, right?”
Penn State hired Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas to inject some new life into the offense, and the addition of veteran [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] from Ohio State was believed to help solidify the group. And with Drew Allar gearing up for his second season as the starting quarterback, things look like they may be in good shape this fall, beginning this weekend on the road at West Virginia.
One player who has stood out to Franklin among the receivers is [autotag]Liam Clifford[/autotag], the younger brother of former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford.
“He’s more confident, more comfortable,” Franklin said of Clifford, a player who could step up and become a bigger contributor this season. “He’s much more consistent, which is what it’s all about for all these guys at this level. But it would not surprise me at all, and we are anticipating him having a really good year for us.”
So how many receivers is Penn State looking to field this season?
“I think at wide receiver when you talk about being an 11 personnel set, you know, you’re talking about two deep at two of the positions and then a swing guy in some ways,” Franklin said. “I think we are close to that.”
The big story for the receivers will be figuring out just who is going to step up and demand the football more this fall. Fleming is the veteran option, but Franklin noted a couple of other names we should be watching for.
“I think if you look at kind of across the board, a guy like [autotag]Mehki Flowers[/autotag] has really stepped up for us. Tyler Johnson has really stepped up for us. I think [autotag]Anthony Ivey[/autotag] have really stepped up for us.
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