Liam Clifford turned his head and there was the ball. He managed to retain one foot in bounds for what became the highlight play of his 2023 season. It was equally as masterful a catch as it was a throw by Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who led a brilliant two-minute drill that resulted in a last-second field goal in the first half of a 30-13 win at Illinois last season.
This year, passes like that have become common practice for Allar. Clifford, as well as his other band of wide receivers, have improved too. But this weekend comes the greatest test yet for Allar, the receivers and the entirety of James Franklin’s offense: a rematch with an improved Fighting Illini squad that boasts one of the nation’s top passing defenses.
“I think their secondary is really going to be a challenge for us,” Franklin said Monday. “I think our wide receivers have taken a really nice step and made some really good strides since last season, but we will be challenged. We will be challenged in the secondary this week.”
Xavier Scott leads an Illinois defense that has already registered a conference-best seven interceptions this season. For comparison’s sake, Penn State, which also fields a strong defensive corps, has three. That’s the same amount Scott, a hybrid safety and nickel corner, has through four games. He leads the Big Ten.
Scott plays on top of a defensive line that typically places five players on the line of scrimmage. It’s a defensive scheme that hasn’t changed much over the four-year tenure of Bret Bielema, who caused Franklin major headaches in the Nittany Lions’ loss to the Fighting Illini in 2021 and, at times, in the team’s victory last season.
“They do a lot of the same things defensively. They really hone in on those things, and they kind of live by them,” Clifford said. “So obviously, playing them again, another year is always going to help. I think we’ve got a great game plan going into the game. We’ve had a good week of practice, so just excited to compete.”
Scott could line up anywhere, presenting a difficult package for coaches to game plan for. But Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has devised a unit almost equal in ambiguity. It should be especially tricky for defensive coordinator Aaron Henry to circle playmakers within the Nittany Lions’ offense when there’s no true top target. That rotates week in and week out.
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is the likeliest threat to circle in the passing game. But, like at West Virginia, there are times when his role is more tailored to blocking than receiving. That could open up opportunities for wide receivers Harrison Wallace III, Omari Evans, Julian Fleming or Clifford.
There were 10 total players, between tight end and wide receiver, who caught a pass against Kent State. Who knows how many will see the ball against the Fighting Illini?
“I don’t think we get a credit for the amount of weapons we really do have in that receiver room,” Allar said on Wednesday.
The diversified involvement of receivers was an orchestrated strategy by Kotelnicki ahead of this week’s matchup. The same can be said for Warren’s passing touchdown to running back Nick Singleton or when offensive linemen other than center Nick Dawkins were put in motion. Kent State rightfully called a timeout before it could find out what that was about.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on in the backfield, on the front line, and just things, different things to worry about, different formations that we come out in and such,” Dawkins said. “So there’s a lot to worry about, a lot of personnel to worry about.
There are tons of quirks and gimmicks that Kotelnicki has installed to keep opposing defenses on their toes. But stripped down, his offense will likely not succeed if receivers aren’t open. And through three games, they have been. Now it’s time for a real test against a real secondary with a real win against Nebraska already under their belt.
While many of the same faces have appeared that made up the team’s wide receiver corps from a season ago, the group has improved under new leadership. Franklin seems to believe the position is ready for the test and to show the world that this offense is balanced and can compete with the best of the best this season.
“I think it’s hard to argue that they may be the most improved position on the team right now,” Franklin said. “And let’s be honest with it, we needed that to happen.”
