Penn State WR Dante Cephas delivers ‘deserved’ breakout performance in win vs. Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Many thought Dante Cephas would make an instant impact. When he was at Kent State, he was one of the best wide receivers in the Group of Five. And when he committed to Penn State in January, he was one of the top targets in the transfer portal.

Penn State needed help with Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley moving to the NFL. Cephas, a Penn Hills grad, was seen as a situational savior, a proven commodity who could step in and be a game-changing receiver after posting eye-popping numbers in the MAC.

That hope, that potential didn’t materialize. That is, until Saturday night.

Cephas emerged from the shadows at Maryland, scoring two touchdowns in Penn State’s 51-15 win over the Terrapins. His six-catch, 53-yard showing was a long time coming.

“I feel I’m the most confident and comfortable I’ve ever been,” Cephas said. Why is he confident and comfortable? “I’m just playing faster. … I’m out there flying around.”

Cephas certainly provided a spark at SECU Stadium. He hauled in a spectacular touchdown on Penn State’s opening drive, tracking an over-the-shoulder Drew Allar fade and somehow maintaining his feet and possession of the ball. Then, he did it again in the second half, getting on the receiving end of a beautifully lofted 15-yard floater by Allar.

Cephas said it was a “relief” to get his first touchdown under his belt: “You always have in the back of your mind, ‘When is it going to happen? When is it going to come?’”

It couldn’t have come at a better time. Penn State was without Harrison Wallace III, the team’s unquestioned No. 2 receiver behind KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Wallace suffered an injury against Indiana last week and was seen on the sideline with his right arm in a sling.

Someone had to seize the opportunity that Saturday presented. It was Cephas, who had only 11 catches for 146 yards in his seven previous games as a Nittany Lion.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that things finally clicked for Cephas. Before joining Penn State, he had 130 catches for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns at Kent State. The 6-foot, 193-pound target was a big-time receiver at a lower level. It just took time for his game to translate.

Cephas’ teammates knew a performance like this was coming. Allar, who has spent more time with the receiver than almost anyone, said Cephas “deserved this type of game.”

“He brings a lot to the table even if it hasn’t shown up in games,” said Allar, who has not only thrown with Cephas since May but is also in his regular lifting group. “He’s definitely one of the hardest workers in that receiver room. He’s always learning. He’s always growing, not only physically but mentally. And I’m just super happy for him. … It’s great to see that finally pay off for him. And I know we want to keep this rolling with him.”

Coach James Franklin shared a similar sentiment. He’s proud of Cephas. And he also recognizes what another option in a stop-start passing attack can do for the Nittany Lions.

“It’s a win-win,” Franklin said. “You want Dante to have the type of success that he wants to have, in terms of helping our team be successful. And having another guy that people have to worry about on film, it changes everything. When there’s one guy that people are concerned about, a lot of defenses can find a way to make that challenging. … Hopefully it’s a big confidence booster for him and for us, as well, and we can build on it.”

That’s Cephas’ hope, too. This is something he’s built towards for a while now.

Cephas was a high school star at Penn Hills. As a junior and senior, he had 985 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns, three interceptions, two blocked punts and a punt return touchdown. His coach, Jon LeDonne, called him “the complete package.” And yet, Cephas had only a few FBS offers — Kent State, Bowling Green, Toledo and Central Michigan — as a recruit.

Cephas called the last couple months, hardly making an impact, “a test” he had to overcome. “Stay poised, stay calm and keep my composure,” is what he told himself.

So for Cephas to be on this stage and for him to have the kind of game he had on Saturday was the culmination of years of work and months of holding out hope. And for it to come to fruition — a week before the Michigan game, no less — was exactly what Penn State wanted to see.