Former Penn State football WR Chris Godwin gearing up for breakout year

Will 2019 finally be the season former Penn State football wide receiver Chris Godwin has a breakout year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

The route to stardom in the NFL for former Penn State football wide receiver Chris Godwin has been taking its time. Not that Godwin has entered ‘flop’ terrortiy or anything — but he hasn’t exactly hit his stride in the pros so far. Back in 2013, Godwin was a four-star prospect out of Delaware, who was ready to take his talents to Happy Valley.

While Godwin didn’t arrive in the Big Ten as a bonafide stud right off the bat, he showed some promise during his Freshman effort during the Lions’ 2014 season. With 26 receptions for 338 yards and two touchdowns, Godwin proved to be valuable enough to get more snaps and targets the following year. Godwin’s Freshman debut was average — but his Sophomore effort was great.

Godwin would wrap up his Sophomore season with 69 catches for 1,101 yards and five TDs. Although his third and final season with the Lions was a bit underwhelming in comparison to his second, he still had a solid year with 982 yards, and 11 total touchdowns. His three-year stint at Penn State was complete, and Godwin would eventually land with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A slow start to the NFL

Chris Godwin was one of the more prominent names to come out of Penn State in 2017. The Bucs snagged Godwin with their third-round pick, pairing him up with some stellar pass-catchers. During Godwin’s rookie season, he was playing behind the likings of Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. Therefore, he only managed to start in two of 16 games. Despite seeing snaps coming off of the bench, Godwin put in a solid effort catching 34 catches for 525 yards and a touchdown.

Last season, Godwin saw a few more starts than the previous year, but it was clear the Bucs still didn’t view him as a full-time starter just yet. He played much better in year two with 842 yards and seven touchdowns. Unfortunately, Godwin’s production was overshadowed by the quarterbacking mess out in Tampa Bay. Although the Bucs franchise quarterback, Jamies Winston will remain there, Godwin is in a much better situation with him this time around.

Breakout season brewing?

During the offseason, the Buccaneers dealt DeSean Jackson away to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, Godwin will get much more reps in 2019, as he will establish himself as a starter. And although Winston will still have to prove himself this year, the entire offense will benefit from their new head coach, Bruce Arians. The offensive/quarterback guru will surely give the Buccaneers the boost they have needed over the last few seasons now.

For Godwin, that’s great news. Not only will he benefit from more experience coming from the sidelines — but he will benefit from the fact that Arians is a fan of the former Nittany Lions wideout. According to Bucs Wire’s Colin Liotta, Godwin is “never coming off of the field.” Those words from Arians prove that he’s ready to utilize the former third-rounder as much as possible. So far, it sounds like the plan is working at training camp as Godwin has been a TD machine.