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Penn State Football 2018 breakout candidate: WR DeAndre Thompkins

By Collin Wieder

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a 34 yard reception past defensive back Austin Joyner #4 of the Washington Huskies during the first half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a 34 yard reception past defensive back Austin Joyner #4 of the Washington Huskies during the first half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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This pick might surprise some seeing as DeAndre Thompkins already started some the last two years. But, Penn State football needs another solid target.

With Penn State football wrapping up another national signing day it’s time to focus on next year’s roster. On offense, the Nittany Lions lose top-tier playmakers Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki and DaeSean Hamilton to the NFL. Juwan Johnson returns to lead the athletes out wide, but he’ll need a running mate, enter DeAndre Thompkins.

The slot or z-receiver in Penn State’s offense earned the starting job over Saeed Blacknall before the start of the season last year. He made an instant impact in the opener, on special teams taking a punt to the house for the first touchdown of the 2017 season.

Now, he made plays on offense throughout the season, but it wasn’t consistent enough. He put up games like Northwestern (6 catches, 57 yards) and Michigan State (4 catches, 102 yards, one touchdown). However, he also didn’t record a catch in two games and caught just one or two passes seven times this past season.

That might not all be Thompkins‘ fault. There were a lot of mouths to feed in a deep offense. Without guys like Gesicki, Hamilton and Barkley, this is his chance to shine. He’ll no doubt do that. In two years with quarterback Trace McSorley he caught 55 passes for 883 yards and four touchdowns. The chemistry and knowledge of the offense are already there.

His skill set is also pretty deep. His shiftiness make him tough to tackle in the open field hence his starting job at punt returner. Once in the open field, he becomes lethal. His speed, much like past Penn State football stars at the slot receiver is almost uncontainable.

Furthermore, he can blow the lid off defenses as well. Where Juwan Johnson attacks the ball and shakes off defenders with his size, Thompkins is all jets. He’ll compliment Johnson well because they are so different, and it’ll help to have another option to draw coverage off.

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Of all the most important factors to his breakout, the fact that the spot is open stands out most. Each time a big name leaves, another one steps in. From Allen Robinson to Hamilton to Chris Godwin back to Hamilton, this offense makes playmakers. Thompkins is no different.

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