Some surprising news came out of Happy Valley on Monday when running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton announced they would return to Penn State for another season. This, along with QB Drew Allar’s decision to return, is great news for the Nittany Lions, but it still doesn’t address their most glaring roster need.
Penn State’s biggest issue this season was its lack of talent at wide receiver. Senior tight end Tyler Warren was Allar’s most reliable target (104 catches, 1,233 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns). The problem? Harrison Wallace was the only wide receiver on the roster to top 415 receiving yards. Wallace and Omari Evans, the top two WRs on the roster, combined for just 67 catches, 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Nittany Lions’ deficiencies at wide receiver didn’t hurt them against inferior competition, but they cost them dearly every time they stepped up in competition. The wideouts combined for just three catches and 49 yards in the 20-13 loss to Ohio State. They combined for five catches and 81 yards in the 45-37 loss to Oregon in the Big Ten title game.
When Penn State needed them most, the wide receiving corps didn’t catch a pass in the 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal. That’s unfathomable in today’s age of up-tempo, high-flying passing offenses. Allar was terrible against Notre Dame, but it’s hard to place the full blame on him when his wideouts can’t get open in one-on-one matchups.
