Penn State wide receivers have chance to break through late in College Football Playoff

Penn State’s wide receiver room has been much maligned in recent years — and for good reason. The group struggled to produce in the Nittany Lions’ biggest games in 2023, and this year it has not had the growth some had hoped for under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

Instead, the passing offense has centered around tight end Tyler Warren. There’s good reason for that, as Warren is the best tight end in the country and a potential first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the lack of production at wide receiver has still been a problem for Penn State. There have been miscommunications with quarterback Drew Allar, poorly run routes and dropped passes that have cost the team important games this season, too.

But there is some reason to believe in the group moving forward, and it’s at the point where it’s now or never on whether it can take the next step — with a College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame looming.

Its contributions beyond the box score have helped. But there has to be more against a team like the Fighting Irish and in a potential national title game.

The Penn State receivers have an opportunity to break through this postseason and prove they can be key figures of the 2025 passing offense.

The growth in the room so far has been meaningful enough for Penn State head coach James Franklin to mention it ahead of the Orange Bowl, without even being asked.

“I think the development of our wide receiver room is something that I don’t think has been talked about enough,” Franklin said Saturday. “That has turned into a strength, and I know there’s a ton of conversations coming into the year. You look at the year Tre [Wallace] has had. We felt like Tre has been able to have those years the last couple years but he’s had injuries. Omari coming and playing to his superpower, [his speed]. Julian [Fleming] — you think about the catches Julian had against USC, we are not here without those. And I get it they are not gaudy numbers, but you watch how Julian is blocking. Where are the explosive plays coming from? The receivers owning all of the responsibilities of being true wide receivers.”

Of course, it helps that the room has been pushed ahead by one of those players — a veteran leader who has stepped onto the team and elevated the level of competition. Fleming joined the Nittany Lions from Ohio State during the offseason and immediately became the high tide that raised all boats.

His work ethic has been praised since he arrived on campus, as has his willingness to do the types of things Franklin mentioned, like blocking on the perimeter.

While his own production hasn’t matched what he did as a Buckeye in 2022 and 2023 when he had a key role, his impact has still been felt.

“He’s brought competition into that room,” Franklin said. “Sometimes you’re going into the transfer portal to fill a hole. Sometimes you’re going into the transfer portal to create more competition, to bring out some of the confidence in the personality and the competitiveness in the room that you need, and you’ve got to embrace that. I think Julian has done that in that way, as well. He’s brought — his work ethic is second-to-none and I think that’s showed up and I think that’s helped the room.”

Doing the dirty work is nice, but at some point the production has to follow, too. And it’s worth noting that Penn State has already added two wide receivers from the transfer portal in USC’s Kyron Hudson and Troy’s Devonte Ross — two players who had big roles on their previous teams and presumably aren’t coming in to ride the pine.

There will, inevitably, be departures from Penn State at the position, too. It’s not feasible for the Nittany Lions to keep all of its receivers happy heading into next season. Warren’s departure will help, as he’s taking 98 receptions and over 1,000 yards out the door with him, freeing up touches for the other players.

But those players have to step up. So far Evans’ explosiveness has been a helpful piece of the offense. But it’s not enough to be a No. 1 receiver on its own. He will have to keep adding and keep growing.

He has a head start, literally and figuratively, as one of the fastest — he says he is the fastest — players on the team. He’s only spent a few years at the position, too, after playing quarterback in high school. But that experience has put him in a better position to succeed on the outside.

“Playing quarterback in high school helped a lot,” Evans said Saturday. “I know what [quarterback] Drew [Allar] is thinking when we’ve got routes. And I can see the coverages and tell what those are easier.”

And he’s shown some of the playmaking necessary to be a top option, making big plays — and near-big plays — against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

His upside is tantalizing and undeniable, even if it comes with some inconsistency at this point.

“Omari is fast-fast, but he’s starting to learn and embrace all the other things that go with it,” Franklin said. “He comes down, he made a great catch on that one down the sideline, and when he hit the ground was not able to finish it. But that play still scares people when they see it on tape. He’s going to make those plays. I’m proud of him. He’s blocking. He’s being physical. He’s making plays vertically down the field and I think we are using him in the right way and as he continues to make plays and his confidence is soaring right now, you are going to see the other plays like the play on the sideline where he jumped up and snatched it over the guy and went down the sideline. The scary part is I don’t think Omari is anywhere close to where he can be. I think as we continue to play this year, he’s just going to keep getting better.”

If Evans hits, he will hit big. He can change an offense with that superpower because it’s impossible to teach. But it can be even more valuable than it is now as he continues improving his route running and his ability to create separation on intermediate routes. Because, while deep shots are fun, speed may be even more deadly for a defense when a player can use it to turn small and medium gains into massive touchdowns.

That’s a part of the offense that has been missing on the outside for the majority of the season, but there is no better time for a step forward than now and Franklin’s praise should help give the group confidence.

It’s on those receivers to prove his point and make a statement with the number of games in the 2024 season dwindling.

This story was originally published January 6, 2025 at 9:56 AM.

Jon Sauber

Centre Daily Times

(814) 231-6461

Jon Sauber covers Penn State football and men’s basketball for the Centre Daily Times. He earned his B.A. in digital and print journalism from Penn State and his M.A. in sports journalism from IUPUI. His previous stops include jobs at The Indianapolis Star, the NCAA, and Rivals.