Why Penn State’s offense flourished during Andy Kotelnicki’s first game as offensive coordinator

When Andy Kotelnicki left Kansas to coach the offense in Happy Valley, Penn State fans were excited for what he was going to incorporate. Kotelnicki was with the Jayhawks as their offensive coordinator from 2021-23. He led them to a 9-4 record in 2023, with a prominent rushing attack from Devin Neal. Kotelnicki likes to use motion and quarterback options to keep the defense on their toes.

During the lightning-delayed week one game vs the Mountaineers, Kotelnicki showcased why the Penn State faithful was intrigued and excited for him to run the offense after former offensive coordinator for three seasons Mike Yurcich was fired. 

Let’s break down some of the explosive and key plays that propelled Penn State to victory, and what Kotelnicki did that made it so easy for the Drew Allar led offense:

The first points of the game came on a 50-yard touchdown throw by Drew Allar to Harrison Wallace III. 

On this play, Wallace comes across the formation in a motion, and because no defensive back trailed him, they knew it was a zone by West Virginia's defense. Wallace runs a post route and Allar throws it before Wallace is even looking at the ball. Julian Fleming clears the way for Wallace, drawing the deep safety his way, and the safety is off balance when Wallace corrals the ball and runs down the field into the end zone.

Excellent execution by Allar, placing the ball perfectly into Wallace’s chest and timing it before the linebacker can make a play on the ball. 

On this 4th down play, Fleming motions out to the left sideline and the defensive back follows him, signaling that it’s man coverage. Kotelnicki sends Tyler Warren on an out route, while Omari Evans runs an in route, and this is to try and “pick” Warren’s defender and make him run around Evans. On the sideline, Fleming runs up the field on a fly pattern to clear his defender from releasing off of his route and making a play on Warren after he catches the ball. 

This is a rather common football play, but to use it here on a 4th and 4 against man coverage is a great call by Kotelnicki. Allar executes the throw and Warren gets the first down. This fourth down conversion led to a Kaytron Allen catch-and-run touchdown that extended the Penn State lead to thirteen.

Wallace’s second touchdown of the game came on a fly route just before the end of the first half. The West Virginia defensive back does keep stride with Wallace, but Allar perfectly places it on Wallace’s back shoulder, allowing for only Wallace to make a play on the football. 

These types of plays is why Kotelnicki will have Allar flourish this season. His first read is the go-ball with Wallace, and Kotelnicki is allowing Allar to freely throw the football down the field, unlike last season with Yurcich. 

Extending Penn State’s lead to three touchdowns, Nick Singleton exhibits his patience as he bursts for 40 yards into the endzone. Kotelnicki dialed up a 1st and 15 RPO (run-pass option) with Allar, Singleton, and the motioning Evans. Allar could have kept the football and thrown it out wide to Evans, but instead decided to hand it off to Singleton.

Singleton, who showed off his explosiveness his freshman season, but then failed to last season, stays patient behind the offensive line and allows them to create a lane for him to burst into. Singleton’s acceleration and explosiveness will certainly be shown with Kotelnicki’s offensive philosophy, and the options will create more opportunities for these big plays as shown here.

The Penn State faithful should be even more exhilarated about this season, as both sides of the ball looked brilliant. On offense, it was the Allar-Wallace connection and the big runs by Singleton that shined the brightest. With the wide receivers, Evans was targeted four times on Saturday and finished the game with 55 receiving yards. Fleming played a lot of snaps but was not targeted once. It seemed like Kotelnicki was designing plays for Wallace, Evans and Warren more than Fleming, and I would be surprised if this did not continue throughout the season.