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Penn State Football: will the Nittany Lions be better or worse at each position on offense?

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions attempts a pass against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions attempts a pass against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Apr 23, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley (5) runs with the ball during the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. The defense defeated the offense 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley (5) runs with the ball during the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. The defense defeated the offense 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receivers

Initially, it would be easy to chalk the wide receiver room up as a position group that will be worse this season, simply due to the loss of Jahan Dotson. However, that might not be the case.

Sure, losing one of the nation’s best receivers doesn’t help, but top to bottom, the wide receiver corps could be better in 2022 than it was in 2021.

We’re all aware of what Parker Washington can do, even without Dotson commanding so much attention; we saw it in the Outback Bowl. There may not be much of any drop off from last year’s No. 1 wideout to this year’s.

Who will step into Washington’s role as the No. 2 receiver?

Well, thanks to the mighty transfer portal – Mitchell Tinsley.

At Western Kentucky last season, Tinsley caught 87 passes for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns, which earned him all-conference honors in Conference-USA. Is there certainly a big step up in competition with the transition to the Big Ten? Absolutely, but even if he can put up at least half the level of statistical production that he did at Western Kentucky, he will more than fill Washington’s shoes as Sean Clifford’s No. 2 target.

In addition to the top two targets being nearly identical to a year ago, the No. 3 wideout and beyond will be much better than in 2021, allowing for this to be a much deeper position group than it was last year.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith returns as a starter and should continue to improve under the direction of Taylor Stubblefield. Plus, young talent in the form of Malick Meiga, Harrison Wallace, and Kaden Saunders can also make a positive impact on this Penn State Football team.

So, James Franklin and Mike Yurcich can feel more comfortable rotating fresh legs in at wide receiver throughout the game, and the offense shouldn’t miss a beat; as opposed to last year when it was primarily the trio of Dotson, Washington, and Lambert-Smith out there most of the time.

All in all, look for Penn State’s wideouts to be even better than they were a year ago. They’ll certainly be among the best in the Big Ten, and could make a push to be one of the better groups at their position in the country.

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