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Penn State Football: 4 players who will define the second half of the season

By Alec Whitaker

Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lion players sing their alma mater following the competition of the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lion players sing their alma mater following the competition of the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Parker Washington #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against the Central Michigan Chippewas during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 24, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Parker Washington #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against the Central Michigan Chippewas during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 24, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

2. WR Parker Washington

Penn State’s offensive line is playing well, the running backs are playing well, the tight ends are playing well, but the Nittany Lions need to get their best wide receiver going.

Junior Parker Washington has 20 catches for 285 yards and no touchdowns through five games this year. Now, he sparingly played in the second half against both Ohio and Auburn, but these numbers are still low for someone who was expected to be the No. 1 receiver this year.

Part of this is on the staff just getting him more involved in the offense. There haven’t been many plays that looked designed to go to Washington or feature Washington. Again, it’s possible that Penn State is holding back a lot of the playbook and will let loose in these upcoming weeks.

The Nittany Lions running the ball with more success this season may be a reason why Washington’s volume of looks has gone down, but they will need him in these big games.

Penn State will have to move the ball through the air in order to beat Michigan and Ohio State. Points will have to be put up in these games.

Washington has made big plays for the Nittany Lions before and that will have to continue in the second half of this season.

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