Penn State Football 2020 Season Position Grades: Offense

Wide Recievers

Grade: A

The position group with the most question marks entering the 2020 campaign, the wide receivers, dazzled in this offense and were not only the biggest surprise, but Franklin’s best unit.

Led by junior Jahan Dotson and freshman Parker Washington, Penn State Football had arguably the best wide receiver duo in the Big Ten. Dotson led all Big Ten wide outs with 884 receiving yards, tied for the lead with eight touchdowns and was second with 52 receptions. Beyond the stats, Dotson was spectacular when they needed him the most. Whether it was the go ahead 60 yard touchdown catch in the waning minutes against Indiana, torching the Buckeyes for three second half touchdowns or a crucial punt return touchdown against the Spartans, Dotson defined clutch.

The biggest surprise of the group was he freshman from Sugar Land, Texas Parker Washington. Washington finished second on the team in receptions(36), yards(489) and touchdowns(6) and had a few big games down the stretch, catching nine passes in Ann Arbor and a two touchdown performance against Michigan State. The freshman was equally as impressive with the ball in his hands after the catch, as he was playing like a receiver much bigger then he really is, going up and high pointing the ball, especially in the end zone. Four of his six touchdown grabs came in the red zone on a contested catch in the end zone.

The only thing the receiver group left to be desired was a lack of production from some of the other guys not named Dotson or Washington. Youngsters Lambert-Smith, George and Sullivan-Brown only combined for 23 receptions, with Lambert-Smith leading the pack with 15 of them.

If Dotson leaves for the NFL, which most expect, one of these young receivers will need to step into a bigger role next season.