Well, this season, James Franklin didn’t twiddle his thumbs as he snagged 27 recruits and the 4th position in the Big 10. Highlighted by in-state standout TE Andrew Olesh, shutdown CB Daryus Dixson, powerhouse OL Malachi Goodman, and legacy sparkplug LaVar Arrington Jr., the spring season is in full swing. But what about their receiver’s room? The old Achilles’ heel that failed to deliver in crucial moments last year. But this time, the buzz feels different, as James Franklin has tapped into the transfer portal to bring in a fresh crop of young players ready to make an impact.
Now, Penn State did have a great run last season. They were in the semis fighting against Notre Dame and ended the season with an impressive record of 13-3, but what created trouble for them was their WRs room. Remember that Ohio State game? Only Julian Fleming and Harrison “Trey” Wallace managed to make receptions. They combined for just three catches totaling 49 yards. With the wide receiver group faltering, Drew Allar leaned on Nick Singleton and Tyler Warren as reliable options, as they accounted for 10 of the team’s 13 receptions. That’s not something James Franklin and the team can repeat this season. So, what’s the solution? It’s pretty simple.
As Penn State’s insider, Dylan Callaghan Croley comes up with a perfect plan, which he puts out, saying, “Talking about the wide receiver unit, my belief in this unit continues to grow with each assessment we learn. What ultimately is going to make or break the wide receiver room is if one or two of the younger guys can step up this spring, or if one or both of Liam Clifford/Kaden Saunders would work too.” That can bring some stability to the team.
But here’s the kicker. Both of them have had their fair share of inconsistency last season. Liam Clifford recorded just 18 catches for 286 yards in 2024. Behind him? There’s Tyseer Denmark, who’s redshirted after appearing in 4 games last season. Then, Kaden Saunders, who missed most of the year because of an injury. The team has freshman Matthew Outten, but James Franklin’s banking on someone who can step up immediately.
That’s where James Franklin’s transfers, Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross, come in—each with one year of eligibility at PSU. Even Croley sees potential in them, as he says, “Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross, as I’ve stressed before, are going to be huge additions to the room, not from maybe a production standpoint, but they’re going to significantly raise the floor of the room.” Devonte Ross made a big impact by gaining 142 yards, scoring two touchdowns, and returning a punt for a touchdown against Iowa’s defense while playing for Troy. This was not a one-time occurrence, as he finished the season with an impressive record of 76 receptions, 1,043 yards, and 11 touchdowns. USC transfer Kyron Hudson also had a strong showing with 462 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns on 38 catches.
So, Dylan Callagham Croley does see potential in them. He says, “There’s a lot of excitement about what Ross could do this upcoming season, thanks to his raw speed and athleticism. Hudson has strong hands and is a good athlete himself; he is what he is at this point in his career, a good but not great wide receiver. I don’t necessarily expect big things out of him, but he’s a significant WR2 upgrade over Omari Evans.” But that’s not the only thing that’s creating pressure on James Franklin.
James Franklin’s increasing stress
The backup quarterback situation in college football can be chaotic. One moment you’re a benchwarmer, the next you’re leading the team. Penn State experienced this firsthand. Drew Allar got injured in the second quarter against Wisconsin. Beau Pribula stepped in confidently, threw a touchdown, secured a 28-13 victory, and seemed like the future star. However, he unexpectedly transferred to Missouri, leaving Penn State’s quarterback situation in disarray.
Now, Franklin wasted no time before taking action. He quickly enlisted Ethan Grunkemeyer to step in for Beau. Grunkemeyer, a talented player, showcased his skills in 2023 by leading Olentangy to an impressive 11-2 season and a successful playoff campaign. He caught the attention of MaxPreps, ranking 7th in Ohio for passing yards with 3,517, along with 39 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions, completing 66.3% of his passes. Additionally, he scored 3 rushing touchdowns. Franklin sees potential in the young player, believing he has the raw talent to develop further while already possessing polished skills.
However, the looming question remains: Can Drew Allar progress to the next level in 2025? The stakes are high. During spring camp, James Franklin didn’t sugarcoat it. “A lot of times, it’s not like one thing,” Franklin said when asked about Allar’s focus this spring. The coach further added, “He needs to take another step this year, which we think he’s done every year he’s been here. He needs to take another step when it comes to his mobility, [and] he needs to take another step when it comes to his leadership. He needs to take another step in it terms of his completion percentage. Needs to take another step in terms of his touchdown-interception ratio.”
Now let’s wait and see if Drew Aller can actually step up and make sure he improves in all the above criteria’s James Franklin stated.
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