The sun beat down on Penn State practice field. There was a natural heat in the atmosphere, but a significant amount was also provided by a season on the horizon — one with a 12-team College Football Playoff and an expanded Big Ten. One without Michigan or excuses for James Franklin if the Nittany Lions don’t qualify for a postseason berth.
Buses will fill with 250 individuals, between players and staff members, as Penn State makes its way to West Virginia on Saturday. What will meet them in Morgantown is a sell-out crowd of blue and gold, and the first opportunity at chipping away toward a playoff debut. But for now, there’s practice and preparation, particularly in polishing off a new offensive system.
Drew Allar told reporters on Wednesday that he’s “more comfortable” than he’s ever been. He took to the field later that afternoon to back up his statement. Allar first worked with the tight ends, and concluded the viewing session with the wide receivers. Allar will need both to get open at a consistent rate if he hopes to obtain a stress-free sweep of the Mountaineers.
There were times over the 2023 season that Allar struggled to find his explosiveness and create a rhythm with his receiver corps. The opener against West Virginia, a 38-15 Penn State win, was not one of them. Allar connected on 21-of-29 pass attempts for 325 yards and three touchdowns in that game. He’d surely like to find similar success this weekend.
A handful of weapons could offer their services to Allar in the pass game. Some are known commodities, others not so much. Harrison Wallace III and Liam Clifford have all but defined themselves as the Nittany Lions’ top two wide receivers. But who’s No. 3? Maybe Kaden Saunders, who remains uncertain for action on Saturday.
Saunders has been dealing with “bumps and bruises” and is “hopeful” to play in Morgantown, Franklin said Monday. But Saunders appears to be trending in the right direction, having been an active participant at Wednesday’s viewing session. He is also the clear favorite to handle punt-returning duties this fall.
Saunders was active on Wednesday, but another offensive playmaker was not. That would be tight end Khalil Dinkins, who’s been viewed as the de facto No. 2 tight end behind Tyler Warren after appearing in 12 games last season. Warren has also had “bumps and bruises” and “missed some time,” Franklin said Aug. 13. That appears to maybe still be the case.
Allar took the majority of the quarterback reps, but occasionally traded opportunities with his signal-caller counterparts. A familiar face, Jaxon Smolik, was in attendance. Smolik, who has dealt with a “significant injury” since the spring, was padded and among his teammates on Wednesday.
Smolik was projected to serve as Penn State’s third-string quarterback behind Allar and Beau Pribula. But that role is likely to stick with freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer at the season’s start.
