Penn State Football: Somewhat unknown, high-rated receivers cover unit

Many newcomers enter Penn State football’s lineup this year. The receiving group is no different despite having some established players already there.

Last year Penn State football’s offense struggled to consistently move the sticks through the air. Starters from the 2017 season like Juwan Johnson, DeAndre Thompkins and Brandon Polk never found their collective footing in what turned out to be a 9-4, 2018 campaign.

This didn’t mean the passing game saw total regression. Upcoming sophomore KJ Hamler led the team in almost every receiving category and fellow upcoming sophomore tight end Pat Freiermuth scored a team-high eight touchdowns.

Still, all three of the previously mentioned players are headed out the door in some fashion, leaving the team with some question marks in the receiving corp. Who will step up to the level of Hamler and Freiermuth. True sophomore Jahan Dotson looks to continue his play from late last season.

But, the unit needs more than two proven receivers and a tight end. This is where some of the lesser-known names come in but that doesn’t mean they’re under qualified. Receivers such as Cam Sullivan-Brown, Mac Hippenhammer, Justin Shorter, Daniel George and transfer George Campbell give Penn State football quality depth.

They not only have in-game experience but some nice production, pedigree and ability to their names. In total, the five players have 29 career catches for 490 yards and two touchdowns.

Hippenhammer caught the most passes of that group last year with six receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t have the year many expected after a breakout spring game, but he’s shown that he can produce at a high level and contribute in the passing game.

Brown decided to stay after initially looking into the transfer portal, but his return immediately bolsters the wide out depth. He played in 13 games last year, starting one as well. At 6-feet, 191 pounds, he makes a solid wide out PSU’s new QB.

He’s just one of the many bigger receivers on this list though. The other three Penn State football receivers that I mentioned are 6-foot-2 or taller and have the potential for big plays. Shorter (6-foot-4, 232 pounds), George (6-foot-2, 224 pounds) and Campbell (6-foot-4, 207 pounds) showed spurts of impressive play.

Former five-star Shorter touched the ball four times for 29 yards last year while four-star recruit George caught 2 passes for 112 yards, including a 95-yard TD grab from Sean Clifford late in a blowout win against Kent State. Finally, Campbell, a former five-star receiver, moves to Penn State after three years at Florida State. The former Seminole caught 13 passes for 206 yards across his three seasons.

Although most of those players haven’t made a large scale impact yet, they’ve got plenty of time to develop chemistry in the starting lineup or rotational second unit. Not to mention, they offer a diverse skill set that’s sure to help the new starting QB for PSU.