Penn State Football Early Position Preview 2017: Wide Receiver

The Penn State football team lost its top wide receiver from the 2016 campaign. However, the cupboard is far from empty for 2017.

The past two seasons Chris Godwin has been one of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten Conference. During these two seasons Godwin caught 128 passes for 2,083 yards and 16 touchdowns. However, the Nittany Lions will have to replace his production for the 2017 season.

DaeSean Hamilton is the most experienced returning wide receiver for Penn State in 2017. Hamilton, a three year starter, has 161 career receptions, 1,985 yards, and nine touchdowns. Look for Hamilton to play a ton in the slot in 2017 and to be Trace McSorley‘s safety blanket.

Hamilton ranks sixth all-time in school history in receiving yards and is tied with Derrick Williams for the third most receptions in school history. He enters the 2017 season needing just 20 receptions to break Deon Butler‘s school receptions record (169). Barring injury, Hamilton will become the school’s all-time leader in receptions in 2017.

My breakout candidate for 2017 is Saeed Blacknall. In his career Blacknall has caught 33 passes for 690 yards and 5 touchdowns. Additionally, he averaged 31 yards per reception in 2015 and followed it up by averaging 23.1 yards per reception in 2016.

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Blacknall’s 2016 season consisted of just seven games due to injuries and a suspension. However, late in the season, Blacknall was beginning to flash his tools. Without his monster game against Wisconsin (six receptions, 155 yards, two touchdowns), odds are, the Nittany Lions do not win the Big Ten Championship.

Saeed Blacknall has a rare combination of size and athleticism. If Blacknall can stay on the field in 2017, he has all the tools needed to be one of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten Conference.

Another wide receiver with starting experience is redshirt junior DeAndre Thompkins. The past two seasons Thompkins has played in a combined 20 games. In these 20 games he has caught 30 passes for 473 yards and a touchdown. He also has a rushing touchdown to his credit during this stretch.

Thompkins can play both outside and in the slot. He is one of the most athletic players on the team. The Nittany Lions will look for Thompkins to take the next step in 2017.

Finally, there are a trio of redshirt sophomores that will have an opportunity to make an impact. These three players are Brandon Polk, Irvin Charles, and Juwan Johnson. Brandon Polk’s game is built on his speed, as Polk is arguably the fastest player on the roster. Due to this, the coaching staff will find a way to get the ball in his hand’s in 2017.

As for Charles and Johnson, they are bigger more physical wide receivers. Irvin Charles is six-foot-four and weighs 220 pounds. James Franklin has previously called Charles the most talented wide receiver he has ever been around.

In 2016 Charles flashed what he cab do. While he caught just two passes, one of them was arguably the most important play of the season. This was his 80-yard touchdown catch against Minnesota. A play on which he put his athleticism, physicality, and speed on display.

As for Juwan Johnson, he has as much raw talent as any wide receiver on the roster. In fact, while in high school he was dubbed ‘Megatron Jr’ by opposing high school coaches. In 2016 Johnson caught a pair of passes for 70 yards. However, his role should increase substantially in 2017.

Both Charles and Johnson will be given every opportunity to make an impact as wide receivers on the outside.

Next: 2017 Early Preview: Quarterback

Lack of talent will not be an issue for the Penn State Football team at wide receiver in 2017. The Nittany Lions return experience in DaeSean Hamilton, DeAndre Thompkins, and Saeed Blacknall. They return a lot of untapped potential in Irvin Charles and Juwan Johnson, and Brandon Polk’s speed is back in the mix after missing 2016 due to injury.

The Nittany Lions need someone to step up and fill the void left by a departing Chris Godwin, and there are plenty of candidates to do so.

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