2024 Blue-White analysis: What did we learn from Penn State’s spring game?

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State wrapped up spring with the Blue-White game Saturday afternoon. The White team, stacked with the majority of starters and expected contributors, beat the Blue team, 27-0.

Here are a few key takeaways from this year’s intrasquad scrimmage:

• Wide receiver: With KeAndre Lambert-Smith expected to enter the transfer portal, the Nittany Lions could be expected to search the portal for a replacement. In the meantime, Harrison Wallace III had five receptions for 72 yards. Kaden Saunders had a catch-and-run for 30 yards. Omari Evans had a 20-yard catch. So there were some positives to build on as the summer approaches.

There were also familiar mistakes. Saunders had a drop on an open slant pattern. Wallace lost track of and dropped a would-be Drew Allar touchdown pass over the shoulder. Plays that could have been made — and plays that will need to be made — weren’t.

As for Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, don’t be worried about his stat line. The former five-star, stuck on the Blue team without Allar, had one catch for 5 yards. It’s safe to assume Fleming will not only start but be a vital piece to the offense come the fall.

• Abdul Carter: Poor Eagan Boyer. The true freshman tackle had an impossible task: trying to block Carter. Predictably, Carter had his way in the lopsided matchup.

Saturday was the first glimpse fans got at Penn State’s newest defensive end. Carter, the explosive All-Big Ten standout, moved from linebacker ahead of spring camp. And though he was going up against a freshman, Carter impressed with a “sack,” a TFL and a few pressures.

Carter, with his devastating combination of speed and power, is a key piece to the defense this year. Penn State lost Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac to the NFL. But Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton are poised to form a formidable duo.

Carter needs to fine-tune his technique. That will come with time. But his first step off the line is something that can’t be taught, and it will be a handful for Big Ten tackles to deal with.

• No. 3 RB competition: It wasn’t a surprise to see Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen sit out. No need to expose them to injuries. The Blue-White game — and spring camp on the whole — was an important one for the rest of the running backs.

Penn State needs to solidify its No. 3 option. But Quinton Martin and Cam Wallace, in particular, are making it hard on running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider and the staff.

Martin, the true freshman from Belle Vernon, stole the headlines a bit with a couple touchdowns. Wallace handled most of the carries, rushing for 36 yards on seven attempts. Both flashed for the White team. London Montgomery — who, like Wallace, didn’t see the field last year — also showed some shiftiness on an 11-yard run for the Blue team.

Martin and Wallace appear to be ahead in the No. 3 competition. Franklin made sure to note this spring that Montgomery, who missed his senior year at Scranton Prep with a serious knee injury, still isn’t playing at the necessary weight to make an impact.

Wallace and Martin, though, look ready to provide the Nittany Lions with a lift in the fall, if needed. Martin, in particular, dealt with “bumps and bruises” during camp, Franklin said. But he’s encouraged with what Martin has shown so far and what’s in his future.

“I do think there’s a foundation that’s been laid with him that will allow him to make significant progress this summer,” coach James Franklin said, “and be able to go into training camp and legitimately compete.”

A.J. Harris: The highly touted transfer cornerback from Georgia was lauded this spring by coaches and teammates for his aggressiveness and athleticism. He showed why Saturday.

Harris was all over the field. The five-star sophomore led all players with seven tackles (six solo). His performance was highlighted by two tackles for loss and a pass breakup in the end zone. Harris tracked Allar’s goal-line fade to Malik McClain, positioned himself well and batted it away.

Harris enrolled in January and joined a corner room in a state of flux. Kalen King, Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy left for the NFL, leaving assistant coach Terry Smith forced to replace a trio of starters. This spring, Smith was impressed by Cam Miller, a leader in the room, and saw improvement from Audavion Collins, both of whom started for the White team.

But Harris is going to be a big piece of the secondary in 2024.