In a crucial matchup on Thursday, Penn State once again fell short.
In the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, Nittany Lions wide receivers didn’t register a single catch, with Drew Allar completing 12 passes to tight ends Tyler Warren, Khalil Dinkins, and Luke Reynolds, as well as running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
Warren was the only player who consistently posed a threat throughout the game. However, the Irish defense focused on him and successfully limited his impact, especially in the fourth quarter. After the 13:59 mark in the fourth, Warren didn’t record another catch until Penn State’s last-ditch effort with four seconds remaining.
Wallace and Evans only had eight catches between them during the College Football Playoffs, with Wallace catching seven and Evans failing to record a reception against both SMU and Notre Dame.
While Allar is sure to face criticism for his interception at the end of a potential game-winning drive, the issue goes beyond just the 2024 season. In 2023, Penn State’s leading receiver was KeAndre Lambert-Smith (673 yards), who transferred to Auburn. In 2022, it was Parker Washington (611 yards), who entered the NFL draft. The last time the Nittany Lions had an elite wide receiver was in 2021, when Jahan Dotson recorded 91 catches for 1,182 yards, and Washington added 820 yards.
The Allar-receiver connection feels like a cyclical issue for Penn State. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki received praise for his pre-snap motions and creative looks, but against tougher competition, it became clear these schemes were masking a major deficiency at wide receiver. By using Warren in various formations, Penn State kept him involved, but the receivers struggled to create separation, and Allar still lacks the accuracy and decision-making to overcome this issue.
Allar’s interception came at a tough moment, with the quarterback looking off throughout the game, including two interceptions that were negated by penalties. After a promising 13-yard run from Singleton to start the would-be game-winning drive, Penn State opted to throw on the second play, even with two timeouts remaining. Despite Greg McElroy praising Allar’s decision-making, viewers were left questioning what game the ESPN commentator had been watching.
Penn State’s wide receiver situation needs to improve if it’s to compete with top-five teams. The school is not known for producing wide receivers like it is for linebackers or running backs, but there’s a legacy to uphold, with past stars like Bobby Engram, Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, and Dotson. In today’s game, the position must become a priority again.
With most transfers already committed, Penn State’s top incoming receiver is four-star Koby Howard, ranked as the No. 62 receiver in the 247Sports composite rankings, followed by Lyrick Samuel at No. 64.
