University Park— Penn State could be without its top wide receiver for Saturday’s regular-season finale against Maryland per the Big Ten’s availability report.
Harrison Wallace III is questionable.
Wallace has 35 catches for 579 yards and three touchdowns.
He’s second to superstar tight end Tyler Warren among Penn State’s pass catchers in receptions and yards and leads Penn State’s wide receivers in both categories. Wallace had the best game of his career Week 1, catching five passes for 117 yards and two scores— all in the first half— in a 34-12 win at West Virginia. He also had a big game against Washington Nov. 9, catching five passes for 84 yards in a 35-6 win.
IT PROBABLY WOULDN’T COST PENN STATE THIS WEEK, BUT…
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Harrison Wallace III (6) gets tackled after catching a pass during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Mississippi Rebels on December 30, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire)
Penn State likely doesn’t need Wallace to beat Maryland. Penn State is 10-1, ranked No. 4, while Maryland is 4-7 and ranked nowhere. Penn State is also playing at home, which makes the 24.5 point spread in Penn State’s favor more than justifiable. But Penn State will want to have its top receiver back assuming it makes it to the College Football Playoff, which it surely will with a win over Maryland.
ANOTHER RECEIVER RETURNS
James Franklin and Julian Fleming during pregame warmups.
Penn State receiver Julian Fleming, who was listed as questionable for last week’s game at Minnesota and only ended up playing one snap, seems to be good to go for Maryland. Fleming wasn’t listed on the availability report. Fleming, a former five-star who played in-state at Southern Columbia, roughly an hour and a half from State College, came to Penn State after four seasons at Ohio State. Although Fleming’s been a regular starter, he hasn’t put up the big numbers many were hoping for when he transferred over the winter. Through 10 games, Fleming has 13 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown. Warren had 17 catches for 224 yards and a score against USC. But Fleming has contributed in other ways, mainly blocking, and in that USC game, had two big, late 4th-down catches that kept Penn State’s college football playoff hopes alive.
Here’s the full availability report.
PSU-Maryland is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 on the Big Ten Network.
