by Another year, another 10-2 regular season finish for Penn State. For most programs, that consistency is more than sufficient. But not in Happy Valley. Not when those same two losses come against Ohio State and Michigan almost every calendar year.
Even though the Nittany Lions may very well finish the season 11-2 and claim another NY6 bowl victory, the hot seat temp has been set to medium-low on James Franklin’s job security. It’s not time to panic, but it’s time to get a little impatient.
While PSU made an excellent addition by hiring Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki a few days back, there are a few positions they should target in the transfer portal. And keep in mind, the Nittany Lions still have a talent-rich roster, but upgrading a few positions is key to getting over that playoff drought hump.
STACK THE WIDE RECEIVER ROOM
Penn State finished the regular season ranked 73rd in explosive play rate and 90th in passing offense, which has a lot to do with a lack of elite playmaking at the wide receiver position. While Allar underwhelmed at times, he didn’t have a true downfield threat outside of KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who is more of a burner and may or may not return next season. This is their biggest positional need in my opinion.
One guy they should instantly target, if they haven’t already, is former PA native and the top WR recruit of the 2018 class, Julian Fleming. Penn State was among his main schools of interest in high school before committing to Ohio State. Outside of a brief injury history, Fleming is a phenomenal talent who has just been overshadowed by MHJ and Emeka Egbuka his entire career. Why not shoot him another offer and shovel him some of that NIL booster money?
Two more receivers who are attractive prospects are Deion Burks of Purdue and Tobias Merriweather of Notre Dame. Burks was the nucleus of the Boilermaker aerial attack in 2023, as he caught 47 passes for 629 yards and seven scores. He’s a fast, contested-catch machine that would be a terrific perimeter guy in Kotelnicki’s spread offense system. On the other hand, Merriweather is more of a big-bodied, one-on-one mismatch type that Penn State needs to compliment Lambert-Smith’s vertical speed (if he stays). The 6’4”, 205-pound receiver was not utilized much in Notre Dame’s offense this year, but a change of scenery could be all he needs to finally break out.
RELOAD THE TRENCHES
Future first-round draft picks Chop Robinson (DT) and Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT) will have empty lockers in a month, so pursuing more lineman right now is worthwhile.
Penn State typically recruits and develops linemen well, but they landed guys like Robinson in the portal, so they should and will be on the prowl. The offensive lineman creating the most buzz in the portal right now is Texas Tech OT Monroe Mills, who was a three-star prospect coming out of high school but has developed into one of the best offensive tackles in the Big 12. Staying in the state of Texas, A&M defensive tackle Walter Nolen, the former No. 2 overall recruit for the Class of 2022, just announced his departure from College Station.
SECONDARY DEPTH
The losses of All-American Kalen King and Johnny Dixon will sting, but this has been a golden position at Penn State in recent years and should be an attractive spot for cornerbacks seeking new programs. If the Lions can get Daequan Hardy to take his sixth year of eligibility, guys like Cam Miller and Lamont Payne Jr. will fit into other starting roles. Juicing up the secondary is something DC Manny Diaz will emphasize (if he stays), so it’s something to keep an eye on.
Penn State will most likely feature a Top-15 depth chart once again entering the 2024 season, but filling key positional needs is a huge must in order for this team to claw into the playoff picture and make a legit run at a national title. Hopefully they can retain Diaz as DC, even though rumors are circling about him taking a head coaching job at Duke. Nonetheless, your move Coach Franklin.