Penn State coach James Franklin had no update Tuesday on the status of receiver Trey Wallace, who was injured in the first half of the Nittany Lions’ close win over Indiana this past Saturday. Wallace left the game and eventually returned to the sidelines with his right arm in a sling.
Historically, Franklin has announced when a player is expected to miss the remainder of the season, something he did not do when prompted during his weekly press conference. With just four regular season games and a bowl trip left on the 2023 slate, it remains to be seen if Wallace’s potential return is for the majority of that remaining schedule or geared more toward a postseason return.
The injury is the second of the season for the rising offensive target. Wallace was injured in Penn State’s Week 2 win over Delaware and did not return until the Nittany Lions’ victory over UMass four games later.
“No announcements on Trey,” Franklin said on Tuesday, harping on the importance of consistency in the receiver room, a talking point since the spring for this group. “It’s about consistency. I think that’s really kind of always the measuring stick, not just for wide receivers but at every position. The guys that are starting or playing significant reps are the guys that have shown the most consistency in practice and shown the most consistency in games.
“Sometimes I think that gets skewed for the players because they may be being consistent, but they’re doing it against different competition. If you’re going against Kalen King every single day at practice, that consistency is judged a little bit different compared to going against somebody else. So that factors into it as well, the competition that they’re going against. Across the board it’s about consistency.”
Penn State could opt to go with two tight-end sets or multiple running back formations in the absence of Wallace as the Nittany Lions continue to look for reliable contributions at the receiver spot beyond KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Heading into a road trip against Maryland, Wallace is still Penn State’s No. 2 leading wide receiver in terms of reception yards. Behind Lambert-Smith at all positions are Penn State’s tight end duo of Tyler Warren and Theo Johnson, a pairing that could continue to see more work in the coming weeks.
“That’s why 12 personnel is a big part of what we do and [what] we probably will be moving forward. Why? Because our tight end room are proven commodities and have the ability to help us in the run and the pass, and I think have been pretty darn consistent,” Franklin said.
“Are there things they can do better? No doubt about it. I’m not saying that. But that’s also part of it as well, right? As the receivers continue to become more consistent or make plays, you never know. Saturday the light could go on, boom, they have their coming out party and you guys are excited and writing positive things and saying positive things and I’m excited coming to the press conference talking about somebody. But we do have the ability to play more 12, which also helps.”
