Penn State Wide Receivers Deserve More Articles, Per Sources

Penn State Football coach James Franklin is surly and surprised.

Where are the articles? The vignettes? The capsules? The alt-format listicles? The rags to riches success stories? Penn State’s wide receivers have taken “steps” this season, Franklin told reporters on Monday, so why doesn’t the recognition follow?

“I’ve been pleased with the steps we’ve taken,” Franklin bemoaned on Monday. “I’m kind of surprised that no one has kind of come to me and showed me a ton of articles about our wide receivers and the steps that they have taken and what Marques [Hagans] and those guys have done because there sure is a bunch of articles when they didn’t play up to people’s thoughts and standards.”

On a related note, why doesn’t the football follow where all these “steps” are leading?

Also, has the praise for Omari Evans’ big play ability and Trey Wallace’s strong opening performance against West Virginia really not been enough?

Again, the steps are great. They’re a start, and celebrating them is part of the process for a group that has taken a beating.

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Are Penn State’s Wide Receivers Developing Quickly Enough?

Penn State Football — Penn State wide receiver Liam Clifford (2) hauls in a 14-yard pass in the end zone to score his first career touchdown in the first half of an NCAA football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in State College, Pa.

The criticism has been fair, Franklin said, but praising them now would also be the fair thing to do.

However, questions about the position group are also still fair. This Lions team is uniquely built in that tight end Tyler Warren has twice as many catches as any other player on the roster and non-wideouts have a majority of the team’s receptions.

“I’m not saying some of the things that were written and said in the past were not fair,” Franklin said. “But again, just like coaches, if we’re going to be critical, then they should be praised when they’re doing some really good things, which I think they are.”

The good things aren’t all on the surface. Everyone gets that. There’s blocking and technical skill and other assignments the average fan might not see or notice. But in the end, what matters is production and the numbers don’t yet mandate glowing articles.

Catches and touchdowns are ultimately how wide receivers are measured and how praise is given.

Every time a new player emerges or when Wallace shows up again or when Evans torches a respectable defense, the praise will follow. No question.

Franklin went to bat for a group of players he sees is working hard every day and making improvements. That’s awesome, and it’s big to know that the coaches’ film shows layers of progress for a position that opened the season to heavy scrutiny.

But you know what really gets reporters and fans excited?

Steps that lead to first downs, touchdowns, and t0 ranked wins.

“Overall, I’ve been pleased with what they’ve been able to do,” Franklin said. “We’ve got to continue to build it, build their confidence and build their production, but I think it’s hard to argue that they may be the most improved position on the team right now.”