Penn State’s offseason work at wide receiver ‘really paid off’ in Nevada win

STATE COLLEGE — Drew Allar stepped back and fired an on-time hitch route to USC transfer wide receiver Kyron Hudson on Penn State’s second offensive snap of the 2025 opener vs. Nevada.

It was a simple pitch and catch, but they made it look easy. They looked like a talented passer and receiver who have been working together for years, despite Hudson only arriving in January.

The play went for 13 yards and a first down. But more importantly, it lifted a fog that clouded Penn State’s national title hopes ever since the 2024 campaign ended.

It was the first completion between Allar and a wide receiver since the win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Hudson, as well as Syracuse transfer Trebor Peña and Troy transfer Devonte Ross, quickly proved that Penn State’s dogged pursuit of an offseason makeover at the position should pay off.

Nittany Lions wideouts combined for 16 receptions, 184 yards and a score in the 46-11 drubbing of the Wolf Pack. Sixteen catches were already more than last year’s position put together in a single game, with their closest effort coming with 14 grabs against Kent State on Sept. 21.

Hudson’s 89 yards were also more than Penn State’s leading pass catcher — including superstar tight end Tyler Warren — had in nine of 16 2024 games.

“Really good Game 1,” James Franklin said of his additions’ debuts. “But we’ve gotta take a step. We gotta take a significant step between Game 1 and Game 2, and this will be great film to do that off of.”

Hudson, a fifth-year senior with plenty of big-game experience at USC, brought with him a contested-catch knack and a trusted presence for Allar to look toward. His highlights among a 6-89-1 receiving line Saturday included an acrobatic toe-tapping grab on the sideline.

“Hudson looks very mature. He looks very poised,” Franklin said. “He just looks mature and strong and confident.”

Countless hours of spring and summer work with Allar led to his touchdown, too, where Allar broke contain with a scramble to his left and found Hudson 31 yards later, sneaking behind Nevada’s coverage.

“He’s a great quarterback. He’s looking down the field every single time,” Hudson said. “Every chance he gets, he always wants to make an explosive play.”

Franklin, though, said he was surprised Peña beat out Hudson, leading Penn State with seven receptions. He took them for 74 yards while showcasing high-level agility in the open field. Penn State additionally handed the ball to him on a jet sweep for 13 yards, while he set up a Nick Singelton touchdown with a long run after a swing pass. He also contributed as a punt returner.

After enrolling in May, Peña grew stronger and faster in Penn State’s strength program. His skill set is something the Lions desperately lacked last season.

“It feels great just having that trust with the coaches to be able to get those opportunities to get the ball,” Peña said. “I’m just trying to do everything I can to keep proving myself every day and continue to build up from there.”

Peña, with more than 900 yards last season in a breakout year, felt he had to work quickly to build the same chemistry Allar had with Hudson and Ross, who each enrolled in January and practiced all spring.

“I think it’s the preparation that goes in every day, whether it’s practice, meetings, off-the-field stuff, extra catches. Just getting on the same page with Drew,” Peña said. “But I feel like we’ve done a great job. Coaches helped me out. Drew’s helped me out. The receivers helped me out. A lot of people have been helping me out to get to this point.”

Including running backs and tight ends, 10 Nittany Lions caught passes against Nevada.

Ross, who was limited in training camp with an injury, had just one reception. Well-regarded tight ends Khalil Dinkins (one) and Luke Reynolds (two) were similarly quiet. Franklin wants to get each of those players more involved in the future.

But Penn State’s offense is greatly diversified. Teams can no longer look at just Warren to neutralize the biggest receiving threat.

Allar, a Heisman hopeful with national title goals as a senior, has a wide array of options he can trust.

“They’re all about ball. They’re always asking me questions about different routes, what I’m seeing and if there’s anything better they can do to maybe make me trust them more,” Allar said of his receivers. “We watched film a couple times throughout this week. That showed up. Some of the things we were watching happened throughout the game. It was really cool to see that extra time we spent in the film room really paid off for us.”