Sportsbeat Top 10: State College wide receiver Ty Salazer

STATE COLLEGE (WTAJ) — State College football has some impressive players coming off impressive seasons. In fact, with Mike Gaul on this “SportsBeat Top 10” list, the Little Lions are the only school with two players on our list of top-10 rising seniors. But despite the talent, the team went just 7-4 last season.

It was a clear letdown for the Little Lions who are primed to rebound in 2024. One of the biggest reasons is dynamic wide receiver Ty Salazer.

“There are going to be a lot of Corkery to Salazer touchdowns this year,” the senior said with a smile.

Last season he caught 66 passes for more than a thousand yards, setting a school record. One he plans to break this fall.

“I think getting the ball just a couple more times a game is going to make that possible,” Salazer said. “I’m gonna have that many yards, that many more yards and then many more touchdowns and that offense is going to be moving.”

Salazer played a big role in State High’s 6A semifinal appearance in 2022. In three seasons, he has more than 1,600 career yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s averaged nearly 18 yards per catch, but says there is room to grow.

“There’s a ton of plays where I see I could’ve gone 110-more percent there, and I could have got open and got myself a touchdown,” he said. “It’s tough going 100 percent every single play, but I see myself being able to make a play all here, watching the film, especially watching a lot of film, watching where I can improve, where I can get to the second level and get that second burst and get myself open.”

“He knows how to set people up, like how to get the leverage on someone outside,” Quarterback Eddie Corkery said. “We have a good connection where (I) know if he’s going to break it shorter or he’s going to take it over the top.”

Head coach Matt Lintal already sees the improvement in Salazer, adding that the competitive spirit that makes him a great three-sport athlete (basketball and lacrosse, too) pushes him to always work on his craft.

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“He goes out in whatever field he’s on, he’s competing and he’s a kid that brings that into our team,” Lintal said. “He was a captain as a junior, obviously had a fantastic year and he has not rested on that. You know, he’s a kid that has worked his tail off and I’m extremely excited to watch him as a senior because he’s different right now than he was even in the fall.”

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