Penn State Football saw wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith enter the transfer portal earlier in the week, leaving a massive hole at the wide receiver position, and it’s time for some considerable wide receivers to step up to take the place of Lambert-Smith.
The Nittany Lions went out in the winter portal and added Ohio State’s wide receiver Julian Fleming. Fleming is a Pennsylvania native who considered Penn State coming out of high school in 2020.
Fleming was ranked as the number one wide receiver in the 2020 class, but his skillset never developed when he stepped on Ohio State’s campus four years ago.
The Buckeyes are known for developing receivers, and for four seasons, Fleming kept getting passed over in the receiver room by guys like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Emeka Egbuka. Fleming was no more than a number three wide receiver and saw 79 receptions for 963 yards and seven scores in four seasons.
Now, Fleming gets a fresh start in a new place and could easily be the team’s number-one receiver.
Fleming doesn’t have to be in the shadows of top receivers anymore, and it’s time for him to step up to the Nittany Lions. Fleming left Ohio State to get more action and improve his draft stock, and now, he can do so.
Which Wide Receivers Must Step Up for Penn State Football?
Redshirt sophomore Kaden Saunders is another wide receiver who needs to step up this season.
The third-year receiver has had little production in his first two seasons since he got redshirted in his freshman season, and he only had 56 receiving yards and one touchdown last season.
Saunders was the 12th-best receiver in the class of 2022, so he has a lot of talent, and hopefully, he can show it this upcoming season.
Quarterback Drew Allar will need Saunders to have a big season out of the slot for the Nittany Lions to achieve their goals.
Penn State could also see a true freshman wide receiver step up in Josiah Brown.
The freshman is a three-star recruit in the 2024 class, but he is an athlete who ran track in high school and has some serious speed. Brown probably won’t be played much, but maybe he could be used in special packages and confuse the opposing defense.
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Potential Transfer Portal Targets to Replace KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Kyle Ford from UCLA is another transfer wide receiver Penn State can go after. Ford has been in college since 2019 and started at USC before heading to UCLA in 2023.
Even though Ford has been in college since 2019, he has yet to produce much, only having 873 yards and six touchdowns in 36 games. Still, he could be an excellent addition to the receiver room because he has a lot of experience in college and could make some plays for the team if he is called upon.
Penn State Football has to figure out another receiver or two that can step up and help Allar out, and if they can’t find any more receiving help, it could be a long offensive year again in Happy Valley.
MORE: Top Transfer Portal Targets to Watch for Penn State
