5 Thoughts on Omari Evans and Trey Wallace Entering Transfer Portal and Where Penn State Goes From Here
Following Penn State Football’s Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, a surprising stat about Penn State’s receivers stood out to anyone who follows college football.
It’s an ugly stat.
It’s a huge warning sign for head coach James Franklin.
What’s the stat? Nittany Lions receivers combined for a mind-boggling zero receptions against the Fighting Irish.
That’s not a typo.
Penn State receivers had zero receptions. In total, quarterback Drew Allar only had 12 completions on 23 attempts. That’s not a recipe for success in modern football.
To add salt (and lemon juice) to the wound, several wide receivers are leaving the team via the transfer portal.
Here are 5 thoughts on the state of Penn State’s WR position:
Omari Evans and Trey Wallace join WR Exodus Out of Penn State
Omari Evans and Trey Wallace join Jason Estrella, Feyisayo Oluleye, and Tyler Johnson in the transfer portal. That’s FIVE wide receivers leaving.
That begs the question, are they leaving because there’s a deeper issue with Penn State’s passing game? Have these receivers lost faith in Drew Allar? In James Franklin? Or is it simply that they want to play for a team that prioritizes the passing game?
Penn State was most certainly a running team in 2024, but it worked. At least when they weren’t playing high-powered teams. This issue is one worth monitoring in 2025.
WRs Coming in From the Transfer Portal Will Need to Step Up
While Penn State lost five receivers to the transfer portal, they also brought in two.
Kyron Hudson joins the team from USC and Devonte Ross comes from Troy. Both bring a lot of hope to the receiver room, with Ross racking up over 1000 yards receiving with 11 touchdowns while Hudson displayed clutch circus-catch ability for a struggling USC team.
These guys will need to be both team players and also stars in their own right if they want to make a mark for a run-heavy Penn State team that needs a bit more balance.
The Recruiting Class Needs to Contribute Right Away
Luckily for Penn State Football, they have several four-star wide receiver recruits coming in.
These guys will need to mature quickly in their game and start contributing. If one or two of the four can break the starting line, Penn State’s big wide receiver issue suddenly becomes A LOT smaller.
Who Could Penn State Still Target in the Transfer Portal?
The transfer portal still has a few options for Penn State, but it’s pretty slim pickin’s. Here are the top three options:
Washington State’s Joshua Meredith was the third-leading receiver on the team with 472 yards. He’s a little on the short side at 6’0”, but he’s shown the ability to contribute and a step up into the B1G could help him up his game.
Oregon’s Ryan Pellum is one of the higher-ranked receivers in the portal. He’s a freshman and could develop under good coaching. Another plus is that it’s always nice to get talent from a conference opponent.
Arizona State’s Troy Omeire, at 6’4” is one of the biggest receivers still available and has more experience as a senior. He, too, has shown the ability to contribute.
Could Penn State Use Someone that Currently Plays Another Position?
A two-way star won the Heisman in 2024 and is projected as a top-10 pick. Does Penn State currently have any players that could do the same?
It used to be the norm in football. Zakee Wheatley had three interceptions on the year. Zion Tracy had two interceptions and ran one back for a touchdown. That could be a fun option to investigate.
Or could there be a TE on the roster that could thrive out wide?
Tyler Warren certainly could have. Behind Warren, Khalil Dinkins was the next leading receiver from the TE position. Could he shed some weight and move quickly enough to be a receiver?
The Key to a Championship?
Whatever happens during the offseason, the receiver position needs a serious upgrade.
Penn State Football may already have the pieces and only need to make some adjustments. But if James Franklin wants to get over the hump, he needs to bring a more balanced approach to the offense, and that will require more dependable receivers.
MORE Penn State Football news from NittanyCentral:
- Grading Penn State’s Recent Transfer Portal Additions
- Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen Chasing Penn State History in 2025 Happy Valley Return
- James Franklin’s Top Defensive Coordinator Candidates to Replace Tom Allen
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