James Franklin’s post Blue-White Game thoughts on Penn State’s search for a third wide receiver

James Franklin updates his thoughts on Penn State’s search for a third receiver after the Blue-White Game

After losing two leading wide receivers to the NFL draft and graduation, the search for passing options was officially on this spring for Penn State. The return of [autotag]Keandre Lambert-Smith[/autotag], who is coming off a solid performance in the Rose Bowl helped keep one receiving spot stabilized for the Nittany Lions, but [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] knew it was important to find the other options as soon as possible for the offense to keep firing in the fall.

Penn State attacked the transfer portal in the offseason to bring in two options for the receiving game. One of the most likely replacements for a starting receiver position, [autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag] from Kent State, is joining the program after the spring and will start getting to work with quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] this summer. Cephas is widely expected to lock down one of the starting jobs upon his arrival, leaving Franklin and offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag] hoping someone else would step up and be that coveted third receiver.

[autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag] from Florida State joined the program in time for spring practices and was able to participate in the Blue-White Game. That was beneficial as McClain had some good moments in his spring debut for the Nittany Lions. But the rising star coming out of Penn State’s Blue-White Game this spring may have been sophomore [autotag]Omari Evans[/autotag].

Evans scored the only touchdown of the spring game for the Nittany Lions when he found some rare open space against a tight defensive pass coverage, hauled in a pass from Allar after he scanned his progressions, and stretched into the endzone for the score (and was promptly penalized for excessive celebration).

After the game, Franklin commented on the performance of Evans and the overall search for a third passing option.

“I thought Omari (Evans) really stepped up and we need a third wideout to step up,” Franklin said in his postgame press conference. “So that was exciting to see him make some plays out there.”

“He’s strong and he’s physical, and he’s getting more and more confident day by day,” Franklin later added. “We need somebody to step up in that third wide receiver role. For the last week and a half, we moved him into that spot and obviously today was something to build on. There’s no doubt about it. He’s got all the tools.”

It is easy to overreact to a performance in a spring game, but Omari Evans certainly picked a good day to turn in the performance he did. We’ll see if that leads to a more meaningful role in the fall.

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Blue-White Game Preview: 5 offensive keys to watch

What are the offensive keys to pay attention to during Penn State’s spring Blue-White Game?

Spring is officially here and that means team practices are underway as they lead up to the traditional Blue-White Game on Saturday.

Last year was a year with mild expectations that eventually led to a grand finale in the form of a Rose Bowl win and a total of 11 wins on the year. They started the season unranked but ended in the top ten, this year they are likely to keep that ranking and start off with larger temptations.

The defense has been ole reliable for the Nittany Lions but it may finally be the offense’s turn to take center stage. With so many young and promising faces on that side of the ball, the spring game will be a fun preview of what could be coming this season.

5 Things to watch in Penn State’s spring game

Penn State’s Blue-White Game is this week. Here are five things to watch.

Football is in the air in State College in the month of April, and it is that time of year once again for the annual Blue and White Game.

Penn State’s spring game has taken it up a notch in previous years under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and this Penn State team is coming off one of its best years in program history. With that comes expectations being raised and more eyeballs on them.

It all starts in the spring game as mentioned but it can all be boiled down to five things that need to be looked at in the Blue and White Game.

5 questions to answer during Penn State spring Football

Penn State continues spring football practices looking to address these key questions about the team.

Penn State is coming off its best season under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and now expectations are higher than ever.

Penn State has as many new faces on the team as returning faces. They are rotating out several playmakers on both sides of the ball while priming others to take the next step by replacing them. It is a cycle that James Franklin and his staff are accustomed to and for the most part, have mastered.

One benefit of his staff is that nearly all of it has returned including key coordinators in [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag]. Both had chances to leave for head coaching jobs before ultimately deciding to stay. Now they have to help Franklin solve some questions that are lingering heading into Spring practice.

Mike Yurcich comments on offensive position battles

Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich sheds light on key offensive position battles this spring.

Last week, James Franklin created a tiny stir when discussing the quarterback “battle” that will be ongoing. Offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag] spoke to the media on Tuesday and gave further comments regarding the competitions ongoing at several positions on offense.

Yurcich was asked about the wide receiver position with the departure of [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and he responded by stating “We’d like to think that there’s a competition everywhere…but it’s a spot where we’re definitely looking for guys to step up and contribute in a major way.”

They hit the transfer portal hard in adding depth at the position by getting both Malik McClain and Dante Cephas. Those two paired with KeAndre Lambert-Smith will be competing for the attention of the new quarterback this year. Lambert-Smith is a veteran so he could be expected to lead the way but both McClain and Cephas are expected to produce decent numbers as well.

Speaking of whoever the quarterback will be, Yurcich also spoke about the two quarterbacks competing for the starting job. He added, “I think all the quarterbacks, especially Drew [Allar] and Beau [Pribula], have done a very good job of leading by example.”

[autotag]Beau Pribula[/autotag] has one extra year on campus compared to [autotag]Drew Allar [/autotag]but the now Sophomore in Allar is expected to be the starter. Yurcich and Franklin have done a decent job of entertaining the idea of competition but Allar being used as much as he was last year while finding success, indicates how they feel about him.

Look for Allar to be the starter post-blue-white game and for all the receivers mentioned above to be used in a diverse way to help him find success in his first year as the starter.

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What does James Franklin want Penn State’s offense to improve this spring?

James Franklin outlines the spring practice goals for the offense

Penn State officially opened spring football practices on Tuesday with a full staff now put in place. The Nittany Lions are looking to build off the rejuvenated momentum of the 2022 season that ended with a 10-2 regular season record and a victory over Utah in the Rose Bowl, and there will be a number of key positions to pay attention to this spring. But head coach James Franklin outlined what he is looking to improve on all parts of the roster beginning this spring.

Franklin noted a number of areas to improve on offense, including getting more out of the running game, increasing the toughness, and getting more explosiveness out of the offense on the ground and through the air. But perhaps the more pressing issue on offense is finding new leaders on the offense. After losing veteran and experienced starting quarterback Sean Clifford, two NFL wide receivers in Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley, and tight end Brenton Strange, the Nittany Lions have some big shoes and a good chunk of offensive production to replace in 2023.

Penn State will open the spring with [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] expected to be the successor to Clifford in his sophomore season. Allar was given a number of opportunities to get some playing time last season in relief of Clifford. Allar will have some new targets to get in sync with the return of [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and the transfer portal addition of [autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag] from Florida State this spring. The tight ends will be anchored by returning vets [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag].

The passing game does begin the spring with more questions than any other facet on the offense, it would seem. Such is bound to happen with a young quarterback set to take over and after losing the top three receivers on the roster from the previous season.

“That room, we think there’s the talent in that room to go where we want to go,” Franklin said in a press conference on Tuesday. “I think we have to be tougher and we have to be more consistent. If you look at college football and if you look at the NFL, probably the area where you can change games the fastest in college football and the NFL right now, is at wide receiver.”

Franklin’s mentioning of the running game was interesting considering the strength of its young running back duo last season. [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] each exceeded the former freshman rushing touchdown record for the program last season. Penn State had the Big Ten’s fourth-best rushing offense last season with an average of 181 rushing yards per game.

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Penn State spring football preview: Wide receivers and tight ends

Who will be the wide receivers and tight ends to watch in Penn State spring football practices this year?

As Penn State gets ready to embark on the 2023 season, the offense will be expected to be the big storyline this fall. With a new starting quarterback taking the spotlight, it should not go without mentioning that the wide receiver position will be instrumental to Penn State’s success this season. And with its top two wide receivers and leading tight end from last season departing the program for the NFL, there is more to figure out on offense than whether or not its new quarterback is ready to take flight.

Penn State loses Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley at wide receiver and Brenton Strange at tight end. Together, that accounts for 1,550 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns to replace in the passing offense from a year ago. Fortunately, Penn State has some players ready to step up and make up for the lost production, including some young players that will continue to develop this spring.

Here is a look at what Penn State has to offer at wide receiver and tight end this spring when spring football practices open on March 14.

Keandre Lambert-Smith

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Measurables: 6’1″, 184 lb

Year: Junior

Expected role: Starting wide receiver

KeAndre Lambert-Smith is Penn State’s top returning wide receiver from a season ago. Following the departures of Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley, Lambert-Smith has the most Penn State experience at the position, and he should remain a fixture in the offense for new starting quarterback Drew Allar to rely on stretching the field.

[autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag]

Harrison Wallace III

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Measurables: 6’1″, 196 lb

Year: Redshirt sophomore

Expected role: Possible starting wide receiver, solid contributor

Competing for a possible starting job could be Harrison Wallace III, who had 19 catches for 273 yards and a touchdown last season as a reserve option. Wallace finished sixth on the team in receiving yards in 2022 and is the third-leading receiver coming back from last year’s roster, although a pair of transfer additions to the roster means Wallace will look to make a statement this spring for consideration for an increased role in the fall.

NEXT: Key transfer additions

Top photos from KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s Penn State career

Here are the top photos from KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s career at Penn State thus far.

We are just a few short months away from the draft, and with the combine now concluded, we now head into the weeks of both pro days and NFL Draft prospect interviews.

However, let’s not forget the returning talent coming back to State College next season.

The Nittany Lions had plenty of key underclassmen play this past season.

On top of that, their most notable returning player is offensive tackle Olu Fahsnau, who surprised many by announcing his return to Penn State in 2023.

Now, let’s take a look at the wide receiver room. The Nittany Lions have lost some key talent in their receiver room over the past two seasons. Jahan Dotson after the 2021 season, and now both Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley.

Now, the next man up is upperclassmen receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag].

Lambert-Smith hasn’t really had the chance to show he can be a top target on Penn State’s offense. Now, he has the chance to do so in 2023.

Let’s take a look at some of the top moments from KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s time at Penn State thus far.

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ESPN says these non-QB players will define Penn State’s success in 2023

ESPN says this group of players will be the key to Penn State’s success this football season.

As Penn State begins to prepare for spring football practices, the position under the brightest spotlight is the quarterback position. Following the long career of [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag], which ended with multiple Penn State passing records and a Rose Bowl victory to cap an 11-2 season, sophomore [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] is the expected successor for the Nittany Lions, and he comes with plenty of hype and lofty expectations moving forward. But if you eliminate the obvious quarterback position from the discussion, what position or positions will have the largest impact on what Penn State does in 2023?

ESPN went through each of its way-too-early top 25 teams for the 2023 season and singled out one group that will be the biggest key for each team this fall. When it came to Penn State, the focus stayed on the offensive side of the football with the supporting cast surrounding Allar. ESPN grouped all of Penn State’s skill position players into the key category as the players that will ultimately dictate whether Penn State has a successful season or not. To be fair, this seems like an easy out, but it does make some sense.

The defense will have some key players to replace but the entire defense still has a good amount of talent to rely on for the upcoming season. And the offense has the dynamic young duo of [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] to run the football after stellar freshman seasons in 2022. Allen would have set the freshman rushing touchdown record for Penn State if it were not for Singleton also breaking and setting the new freshman record last season. Expect plenty of Singleton and Allen again in 2023.

Penn State’s biggest question mark on offense may come with the receivers after losing [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag] to the NFL. The Nittany Lions bring back [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag], who had a big Rose Bowl, and the program attacked the transfer portal to add [autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag] from Kent State and [autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag] from Florida State. The two new transfer additions should fit right in with the offense, but it is fair to wonder just how quickly the receivers get in sync with Allar.

Penn State was a common team placed in the top 10 of the way-too-early top 25 rankings following the conclusion of the 2022 season, and it is expected the Nittany Lions could be in the Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff discussion in the fall, and if the offense is firing on all cylinders, then the Nittany Lions could be in for a wild season.

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Penn State announces hiring of Marques Hagans as wide receivers coach

Penn State’s search for a new wide receivers coach is over.

Penn State’s search for a new wide receivers coach has come to an official end. Penn State announced the hiring of [autotag]Marques Hagans[/autotag] on Monday. In addition to filling the role of wide receivers coach, Hagans will also assume the title of offensive recruiting coordinator.

Hagans comes to Penn State after spending the last 11 seasons at his alma mater, Virginia. The former Virginia wide receiver played in the NFL for five seasons with stops with the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Redskins before starting up his coaching career back at Virginia in 2011.

“We are excited to add Marques to our family,” Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] said in a released statement. “He is a veteran coach, whose experiences playing both quarterback and wide receiver at the highest levels will bring tremendous value to our program. Marques has a proven track record of developing receivers throughout his career and has worked alongside many coaches I respect. Marques is a relationship-based leader, whose family values align with the culture of Penn State.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be led by James Franklin and work with his tremendous coaching staff,” Hagans said in his released statement. “I am excited to be part of the tradition of Penn State Football, to uphold the standard of excellence and to work relentlessly to compete for championships.”

Hagans fills the role on the staff most recently held by Taylor Stubblefield. Stubblefield was removed as the program’s receivers coach last week in a somewhat surprising staff change. Hagans will have the responsibility of getting more consistent productions out of the receivers unit that will include the return of [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] following his terrific Rose Bowl performance and transfers Dante Cephas and Malik McClain. It will also be up to Hagans to inject some momentum in the recruiting strategy of offensive players, particularly at the receiver position.

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