Trending
Position: WRs/tight ends
Following is the second in a series previewing Penn State's spring practice:
Returning starter(s): KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Trey Wallace, Liam Clifford, and Malik McClain all recorded at least one start last season. Tyler Warren is the lone starting tight end returning.
Key players lost: Dante Cephas went to Penn State for just one season after transferring in from Akron. He is now at Kansas State for the 2024 spring. ...As for the tight ends, Theo Johnson is preparing for the NFL Draft, where he is projected as an early-to-middle third-day pick.
Statistically speaking: Lambert-Smith was the leader for the Lions with 673 yards and four touchdowns on 53 receptions. Warren had 422 yards on 34 catches and seven TDS. Wallace added 228 yards on 19 catches and one TD.
Emerging newcomers: Southern Columbia product Julian Fleming came in from Ohio State. Fleming comes in from a stacked wideout group with the Buckeyes that featured Marvin Harrison Jr., who will likely be one of the top-5 picks in this month's draft. Fleming had 270 yards on 26 catches last season.
Analysis: The wide receiver room was a revolving door all of last season. Lambert-Smith was the No. 1 for most of the season, but his production dropped noticeably after offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was fired after the Michigan game. He played sparingly in the Peach Bowl. ... Warren turned into the bigger option over Johnson as the season went on, even though he was primarily a goal-line threat earlier in his career. ... Also keep an eye on Malick Meiga, Omari Evans, Kaden Saunders, and tight end Khalil Dinkins. Evans had a good day in last year's Blue-White Game, but it didn't translate into the season.
Wednesday: Linebackers
-- Andy Stine