The Penn State wide receivers have received plenty of heat over the past two seasons and QB Drew Allar doesn’t think it’s fair.
Through the first seven games of the season, there had been signs of progress.
Four different players had gone for over 100 yards in a game. Compare this to only having one all of last season.
Additionally, four different players ended a game as Penn State’s receiving leader in the first five compared to two in 2023. So overall, it looked like there had been progress.
a couple Penn State receiving notes:
– 2024: Liam Clifford is the fourth 100-yard receiver in 5 games
– 2023: 2 100-yard receivers in 13 games– 2024: 4 different leading receivers in 5 games
– 2023: 4 different leading receivers in 13 games https://t.co/I0tYfj7cLK— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) October 7, 2024
Then, Ohio State happened.
In Penn State’s 20-13 loss, Allar through got 150 yards. Of those 150, only 49 of them were via wide receivers.
This was similar to last year’s loss to Ohio State. That day, Penn State’s leading receiver, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, only had 52 yards.
So the critiques of Penn State’s receivers in the days ahead was inevitable.
‘TILL THE DAY I DIE’
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Drew Allar
For Allar, the criticism the receivers get is not “necessary at all.”
“They’ve had a great year this year and they’re going to continue to build on it,” he told reporters via Zoom Wednesday. “We have a lot of talent in that room, a lot of leadership on that room and they’ve done a lot of great things that even if they don’t show up in the passing column with catches and yards, they’re doing a lot in our run game, with (things like) crack blocks. You don’t see many of receiver rooms in the country doing that, straining to block and finish on the perimeter. They’re doing a great job, even though they do get a lot of criticism, I’ll defend them ‘till the day I die.”
THERE HAVE BEEN FLASHES
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Omari Evans
Penn State’s receivers have shown what they could be at times this season. In the opener at West Virginia, Harrison Wallace III had five catches for 117 yards a two touchdowns at West Virginia. In Week 3, Omari Evans caught four passes for 116 yards. Two weeks later, Liam Clifford broke the century mark against UCLA.
Of course, it also helps to have the best tight end in the country in Tyler Warren, who with 606 yards has 211 more than the next closest guy (Wallace at 395).
“I think we’ve shown it throughout the year,” Allar said. “I mean, we have Liam, Trey, Omari all with over 100 yard games.We’ve shown we have the capability to do it.”
For Drew Allar, a key to the receivers getting chances to shine is Penn State being on the field longer.
Against Ohio State, Penn State ran 54 plays compared to Ohio State’s 66.
“Again, it comes down to the amount of plays that we have in a game,” he said. “We have to stay ahead of the sticks because if we only have 40 plays, not many guys are going to be able to touch the ball because there’s just not enough plays going around. So we have to do a better job of staying ahead of the sticks. We’re very intentional about how we’re trying to distribute the ball because we do have so many play makers in space on the perimeter.”
Penn State takes on Washington Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 on Peacock.
