Penn State's James Franklin announces WR coach Taylor Stubblefield no longer with program

Penn State has been in the market for transfer portal wide receivers for the past month. Now, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions will be looking for someone to coach the position.

Taylor Stubblefield is no longer the Nittany Lions’ wide receivers coach. Penn State announced on Sunday night that Stubblefield “has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately.”

“I would like to thank Taylor for his efforts during his time with Penn State but feel it is in our program’s best interest to make a change at this time,” Franklin said in a press release. “I wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

Stubblefield, who held his post the past three seasons, also served as offensive recruiting coordinator. He issued a statement on Twitter minutes before Penn State made the move official:

“As my time at Penn State has drawn to a close, I want to extend a debt of gratitude to all of my players for trusting me, buying in, allowing me to coach them and for giving me their all. … I will always be deeply honored to see you have success. I believe in each of you and I’m confident that your impact will be felt far beyond the football field. It has also been a privilege to work alongside some of the great minds in all of college football.

“Lastly, to the community who has supported my wife and son through her father’s recent illness and passing on Friday, there is no way we can ever adequately thank you. This community has exceeded every expectation.”

Stubblefield was hired ahead of the 2020 season, coming up from Miami. He also held previous coaching posts at Air Force, Utah and Wake Forest.

Before he was a coach, Stubblefield was a decorated wideout at Purdue. He was an All-Big Ten pick, All-American selection and Biletnikoff Award finalist as a senior in 2004.

Stubblefield’s tenure featured the emergence of future first-round pick Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington, slated to be a mid-round selection when the 2023 draft rolls around in April.

However, the receiver position left a bit to be desired in 2022. And now that Washington is gone and Mitchell Tinsley ran out of eligibility, this offseason will be one of transition at the position — especially with a new quarterback stepping in to replace Sean Clifford.