Last season the most improved position award, if there was one, would have gone to the wide receivers. The group went from being a one-man show in 2019 with KJ Hamler to a balanced, reliable young unit in 2020. Wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield was able to take a young group of pass-catchers and turn them into the only consistency on the Penn State offense. The good thing about a young position group? All of the producers from a season ago will be returning for the 2021 season. So, let’s take a look at the Penn State wide receivers entering summer camp.
Who are the Penn State Wide Receivers?
Jahan Dotson was the lone upperclassmen in the trio of top receivers a season ago. The junior announced in January that he will be returning for his senior season in Blue and White. Something that fans and coaches were very excited to learn. Dotson led all receivers with 52 receptions, 882 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. All through a shortened, all-Big Ten season. Another stat that stands out for Dotson? He averaged 17 yards per reception in 2020. Good for fourth in the Big Ten. Finally, who could forget these two grabs against Ohio State? Fans get to see more of that this Fall.
Jahan Dotson with the one handed TD catch 🤯
THESE BACK-TO-BACK ONE-HANDED GRABS 😱
(via @BigTenNetwork)pic.twitter.com/eCCUu7IvfG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 1, 2020
Next in Line
Dotson isn’t the only standout in the receiver room for Penn State. True freshman Parker Washington had a very explosive rookie campaign. He was second in all receiving categories for the Nittany Lions in 2020. After the injury to Pat Freiermuth, the Texas product had to step up and he did in a big way. Washington tallied 489 receiving yards on 36 receptions. He also averaged 13.6 yards per reception and accounted for six touchdowns. He has just gotten better since the season ended too. During Spring practice newly hired Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach, Anthony Poindexter highlighted Washington’s abilities.
Iron Sharpens Iron Parker Washington @cpw_3 has been a problem for us all spring. He makes us better every practice and it is awesome to watch him work! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/8TEc68ecQC
— Anthony Poindexter (@Coachpoindexter) April 18, 2021
With Stubblefield staying into another season, even more consistency will be brought to the Penn State wide receivers. The wide receiver coaching position usually has high turnover at Penn State, so having Stubblefield for consecutive seasons is huge. Especially for a young receiving group. The third on the list from 2020 is yet another freshman, Keandre Lambert-Smith. The freshman showed flashes of what he will bring in the future in the shortened 2020 season. He played in six games last season and accounted for 138 yards on 15 receptions. He is competitive, which is good in a room of players this talented.
Finally, behind those three playmakers is Cam Sullivan-Brown and Daniel George. Sullivan-Brown only saw action in one game in 2020 but showed promise in Spring practice. The same can be said about George. While both didn’t set the field ablaze last season, they both provide much-needed depth for the Nittany Lions. George played in five games during the shortened 2020 season and averaged 10.4 yards per reception. The Penn State wide receivers should be a strong point yet again in the 2021 season with five receivers that are game-ready every week. There hasn’t been this much reliable depth at this position in a very long time.
