Penn State news, notes, and updates for July 3 include X-factors for each Big Ten team, headlines of the day, and more. It’s time to dive into Wednesday’s top stories on and about the Nittany Lions.
The Athletic is currently picking potential X-Factors for every Power Four team. The outlet’s conference-by-conference breakdown recently covered the Big Ten. And, when it came time to pick a representative from Penn State, national college football reporter Ari Wassermen went with a Nittany Lion newcomer: Receiver Julian Fleming .
“You can’t talk about Penn State without discussing its receivers,” Wasserman writes . “Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming , a five-star from the state of Pennsylvania, has been the talk of the offseason. But another Penn State receiver is my X-factor: Harrison Wallace III. He is an explosive playmaker whom we haven’t seen much of because he was injured most of last year. If he emerges as a stud this fall, that could be the difference between a solid and a great season for the Nittany Lions. “
Fleming quickly meshed with his new teammates in State College. He is clearly helping take the receivers room to a new level off the field. That is obviously important. But, as Wasserman notes, it will ultimately also be just a footnote if the Nittany Lions cannot improve on the field in the pass catching department this fall. Few things will wreck the team’s chances of making the 12-team College Football Playoff like more poor play from the receivers would.
Headlines of the day
Trimmings: Who are Penn State’s fastest players? : Fitz, BWI
Tay Valladay Joins Penn State Women’s Basketball Staff : Wogenrich, SI
Penn State among five programs under the most pressure in 2024 : Bauer, BWI
Abdul Carter named preseason All-American by Walter Camp : Alenstein, Daily Collegian
Penn State football again seeking an assistant video director : Pickel, BWI
Quote of the day
“It was close to 50/50 at one point. I thought Maryland was pretty similar, honestly, with the way they scheme their guys open. I didn’t really know too much about Coach [Josh] Gattis , but after my meeting with him on my official visit, I learned that he has a history of developing guys like me. Now he’s the offensive coordinator there and over the past couple years, they’ve been trending upwards.
“For me, it really came down to, do I want to go to a program where I want to build something or do I want to go to a program where it’s all there and I just need to fit the mold and just go win. After talking with my family, we just felt like Penn State was the better option. Both are pretty close to home, so it wasn’t a distance thing. I felt comfortable at both places. It really just came down to that.”
–Four-star receiver Jeff Exinor to BWI on picking PSU over Maryland.
The post List of possible Big Ten X-factors include Penn State newcomer: Newsstand appeared first on On3 .
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