This week, Penn State Football will take on Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl with the opportunity to become the first program in college football history to win all six New Year’s 6 Bowl games.

With only one player officially opting out on both sides, both Penn State and Ole Miss should be close to full strength for a top-12 matchup between two potential 2024 playoff contenders.

Even though Penn State Football will be close to full strength from an availability standpoint, Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin talked this week about the conversations with players about playing in the bowl game.

Franklin noted, “In my mind, the way we build it at Penn State there’s really no reason to opt out” because Penn State has worked with players to have personal plans for practice and game reps for players declaring for the draft, noting Penn State’s plan with Saquon Barkley in 2017.

While some players for Penn State have already declared for the 2024 NFL draft and others with decisions to make, here are 6 players with the most to gain in the Peach Bowl for Penn State:

WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith entered the 2023 season with incredibly high expectations to be Penn State’s wide receiver one and although Lambert-Smith led the Nittany Lions wide receivers in all categories, it is safe to say Lambert-Smith still left something to be desired this season.

While Lambert-Smith has not made a decision for the 2024 season or the NFL draft, Lambert-Smith could use a big game against Ole Miss to either boost his draft stock or his confidence heading into a fifth year at Penn State.

With big play potential and speed to blow the top off the defense, Lambert-Smith has had huge potential in the passing game but hasn’t put it all together. Another game like the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah last season where Lambert-Smith caught three passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, including an 88-yard touchdown catch, could go a long way to boosting his confidence for 2024 or boost his draft stock in his final opportunity before the 2024 NFL draft.

WRs Dante Cephas and Trey Wallace III

Penn State’s wide receivers were overall a massive disappointment for the 2023 season.

After getting Dante Cephas and Malik McClain out of the transfer portal and hearing all fall camp about the steps forward that Trey Wallace III could take in year three, the wide receivers failed to produce on the field for much of the season and made life harder for Penn State quarterback Drew Allar against both Michigan and Ohio State.

Ahead of 2024 when fans are expecting and begging Penn State Football to bring in talent at the position in the transfer portal again this offseason (come on down Julian Fleming), Cephas and Wallace have one last opportunity to make an impression on the staff before reinforcements (hopefully) arrive to challenge for playing time and targets.

Both Cephas and Wallace have flashed talent at times, but have not been consistent targets so far in their Penn State careers.

A big game from either player could carry them over into the offseason with confidence heading into a pivotal spring and fall camp for both to challenge for playing time next fall.

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CB Cam Miller

Penn State Football is expected to be almost full strength for the Peach Bowl, with the only official opt out in defensive end Chop Robinson.

While not officially an opt out for Penn State, the Nittany Lions are expected to be without Johnny Dixon, per 247Sports. With Dixon out and Kalen King expected to have a plan with limited reps, Cam Miller has an opportunity to set himself up for 2024 in a big way. The sophomore cornerback from Florida recorded 19 tackles, three sacks, and one interception in 2023.

With King, Dixon, and Daequan Hardy all expected to be gone for 2024, Cam Miller has the opportunity to step up as the lead cornerback for the Nittany Lions next season.

Miller’s pass rushing ability and talent were on display this season under Manny Diaz, now Miller will have the opportunity to impress new defensive coordinator Tom Allen.

DE Zuriah Fisher

With both starting defensive ends Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac officially off to the 2024 NFL draft (and Chop Robinson opting out of the Peach Bowl), Zuriah Fisher has the opportunity to make an early impression on defensive line coach Deion Barnes and Tom Allen for the second starting defensive end position next season (opposite presumed starter Dani Dennis-Sutton).

Now fully recovered from his injury that cost Fisher most of his sophomore season, Fisher tallied 15 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery playing behind Robinson, Isaac, and Dennis-Sutton this season.

The extra practices and game reps in the Peach Bowl could be the springboard that Fisher needs to take the starting position at defensive end next season and hold off freshman Jameial Lyons.

QB Drew Allar

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar had a remarkable season stats-wise in 2023, completing 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,336 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only one interception.

Allar added four touchdowns on the ground and only one fumble lost to bring his total to 27 touchdowns to two turnovers on the season.

However, while his stats look good on paper, Allar struggled against both Ohio State and Michigan, changing the narrative on the former five-star quarterback.

While some of the blame may be placed on since-fired offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, Allar looked uncomfortable in big moments this season, especially on the road.

However, in Allar’s final game of the regular season against Michigan State, Allar had one of his best performances of the season, passing for 292 yards and two touchdowns, including a long 60-yard completion to Omari Evans.

If Allar can put up another stellar performance against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, the narrative around the sophomore quarterback could change heading into 2024, bringing Heisman and 2025 NFL draft hype with it. But, if Allar fails to live up to the expectations of a former five-star quarterback again, the offseason will be filled with doubt at the quarterback position heading into a pivotal year in 2024 with the expanded 12-team playoff.

Time will tell how Allar plays under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, but a big game against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl would do a lot for both Allar and Penn State fans’ confidence heading into 2024.

Penn State has an incredible opportunity to finish the 2023 season on a high note and send a ton of players off to the NFL draft with a nice bowl ring and great memories.

These six players have a lot to play for in the Peach Bowl for 2024 and beyond for themselves and Penn State.

MORE: Penn State vs. Ole Miss Key Matchups in Peach Bowl

 

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