MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — The search for the No. 1 receiver since KeAndre Lambert-Smith left Penn State in the spring seems to be over, if Game 1 at WVU is any indication.
On the first day of the 2024 season, Harrison Wallace III exploded for his best performance yet for his career.
Wallace showed up in a big way Saturday, finishing the day with 117 yards on five receptions and a pair of touchdowns in Penn State football’s 34-12 win over WVU even more impressive fashion, all of his damage was done just in the first half.
“It was great to see Trey have a big game,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “He’s a guy that we’ve been talking about for a while.”
Wallace was primarily the No. 2 receiver last year behind Lambert-Smith when healthy but missed five games due to injury. In a year where the passing game lacked a major spark, Wallace, now a redshirt junior, was a brief bright spot with 19 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown.
Lambert-Smith seemed to be former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s favorite target out of the wideouts but PSU struggled through much of the season through the air. Yurcich was fired after last season’s Michigan game, and Lambert-Smith was largely phased out of the offense.
Wallace was the first sign of a step-up out of the group in quite some time.
“You know how good it feels as an offensive lineman when you see the ball get thrown down the field, and (Wallace) catches it,?” PSU OL Sal Wormley said. “It shortens the drive for us. It makes our life way easier.”
Wallace’s most impressive play was a highlight reel-type of catch for a touchdown with 10 seconds left in the first half. Penn State QB Drew Allar hit Wallace near the sideline, and Wallace made a back-shoulder catch while dragging his toes inbounds to put PSU up 20-6.
HARRISON WALLACE TO THE HOUSE 🏠🔥@PennStateFball strikes first in Morgantown 🙌
(brought to you by @ATTBusiness #ATTBusiness #NextLevelNetwork) pic.twitter.com/zQeJWXftqS
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 31, 2024
“Drew gave me a chance,” Wallace said. “There was time running down in the half, and I just knew I had to go and make a play for him.”
The Wallace TD was a springboard to the start of the second half where PSU opened with a 9-play, 78-yard drive capped by a Nicholas Singleton 40-yard rushing score that put the Lions in the drivers’ seat, 27-6.
“I thought that opening drive was huge,” Franklin said. “We scored right before the half, which was really important. And then you start the second half with a score, and that’s great.”
Wallace said fans have only seen one-third of what the offense is capable of this season.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he said.
