Transfers, freshman listed atop Penn State’s early depth chart at wide receiver

Penn State and James Franklin sought answers — both from the transfer portal and in high school recruiting — to remedy another brutal performance at wide receiver in 2024.

Thanks to the additions of Syracuse’s Trebor Peña, USC’s Kyron Hudson and Troy’s Devonte Ross, as well as freshman Koby Howard, the Nittany Lions’ 2025 pass catchers should be significantly improved.

Franklin revealed Monday just how impactful those newcomers are expected to be, as he outlined the top six receivers on his depth chart ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Nevada. Each first-year Lion made the top group.

In positional pairs, he named Hudson/Howard, Ross/Liam Clifford and Peña/Tyseer Denmark as the two-deep coming out of fall camp. Franklin added that other players could be in the mix depending on the day, but those six have shown the most consistency and earned starting or No. 2 roles.

Hudson, a fifth-year senior, owns 13 career starts and 40 appearances. His stout frame makes him an attractive target in high-leverage situations, while Franklin has given him the noteworthy “Steady Eddy” nickname for his dependable presence on and off the field.

On the other hand, Howard has flashed in camp with a body more ready for Big Ten play than is typical for a freshman. He’ll certainly see early playing time, but Franklin stopped short of declaring the Florida native “green lit” to burn his redshirt right away. The staff wants to see him contribute on more special teams before taking the next step.

“He’s had a nice spring, really good summer, and really good training camp,” Franklin said.

Ross, who battled a summer injury, is now healthy for the season. However, Franklin mentioned the possibility that he and Clifford would rotate at a higher rate than anticipated because of the time Ross missed this offseason.

Ross eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with Troy last season and offers an explosive skill set when used in space. He can threaten teams down the field in a big way.

Clifford, similar to Hudson with 40 appearances, is an important veteran presence in the room. He boasts a vast knowledge of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s scheme, while his perimeter blocking is a key asset.

“He’s ready to go and has looked really good the last week or so,” Franklin said of Ross. “So we’re expecting good things out of him.”

Peña, who went over 900 yards in a career year last season at Syracuse, has gained size and speed since his transfer and exceeded Franklin’s expectations thus far. He’s a pure route runner out of the slot and capable with the ball in his hands.

Denmark, a redshirt freshman out of Imhotep Charter, was on the verge of cracking the rotation last season but never quite got the all-clear to burn his redshirt. His talent is undeniable, offering similar traits to the sixth-year Peña, but it’s up to Denmark to take the next step and earn trust from the coaching staff.

“He’s probably been better than I thought he was going to be, and I thought he was going to be pretty good,” Franklin said of Peña. “I do think he’s a guy that got faster, stronger and more explosive in our strength and conditioning program.”

Finally, Franklin said the receivers’ exact rotations were undecided. Penn State could swap between players on a predetermined rotation, or they could work on a helmet-tap system where players remove themselves from play as needed. There will also be plays worked into the game plan designed for specific players.