‘We’re Expecting Him To Have A Big Year’: James Franklin Praises Omari Evans

During the 2023 Blue-White Game, Penn State football wide receiver Omari Evans had a breakout day .

The sophomore caught five passes for 80 yards during the scrimmage two years ago and scored the game’s only touchdown. With only one season, 55 receiving yards, and a touchdown under his belt at that time, Evans looked ready to take the next step.

The expectations put on the young wide receiver never panned out during the 2023 season. The receiving corps as a whole struggled last season, but Evans saw the field in 11 games while catching only four passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

This year, James Franklin said that the group has taken significant steps during the preseason and said at his Monday press conference that they were one of the most improved position rooms heading into this season.

While he didn’t mention Evans when talking about the wideouts on Monday, Franklin said he simply forgot and made sure to give Evans his laurels during a rare opening statement at availability on Wednesday.

“Omari has had a great training camp,” Franklin said. “We’re expecting him to have a big year for us.”

After not meeting the high expectations around him last season, Franklin also said that Evans has taken a good approach to this season and has learned a lot from the way last year went.

He said that the team recruited Evans for a reason: “He’s speedy, athletic, and intelligent.” This season is a fresh start, and Franklin likes where Evans’ head is at.

“Everyone’s excited for him to come out, play well, and gain confidence,” Franklin said. “He’s one of those guys that his career could just take off.”

While Franklin hasn’t released a depth chart, Evans likely won’t be a starter when Penn State takes the field in Morgantown, West Virginia, this weekend. If he can play to the level that coaches and staff believe he can, though, that can easily change.

At his Monday press conference, Franklin noted other players who had made an impact throughout camp and could see the field this year. In a room that couldn’t produce the way they wanted to last year, the depth is welcome.

“I think at wide receiver when you talk about being an 11 personnel set, you’re talking about two-deep at two of the positions and then a swing guy in some ways. I think we’re close to that,” Franklin said on Monday. “If you look across the board, Mehki Flowers has really stepped up for us, Tyler Johnson has stepped up for us, and Anthony Ivey’s stepped up for us.”

Even with the deep group, Franklin maintained that Evans’ ceiling is extremely high and the program is excited about what’s to come from the junior.

“There’s a lot of excitement within the program that he’s ready and can make a few big catches and a few big plays early,” Franklin said. “He’s a guy that could be talked about very differently at the end of the season compared to maybe conversations that are going on right now.”