Malick Meiga, sensing opportunity, determined to help transform Penn State offense
Penn State receiver Malick Meiga is eager for an opportunity. Working through the Nittany Lions’ ongoing spring practice session, the fourth-year wideout isn’t yet concerned with getting it, though.
Rather, in a room suffering the departures of Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley this offseason, Meiga has turned his attention to the path needed to take advantage of an opportunity if and when it comes.
“Some guys on top right now, but we need everybody to be ready. You never know what’s gonna happen,” Meiga told reporters this spring. “So everybody in the room right now we got to get the good attitude, everybody working as if you were the starter.
“Just keep your head down, keep working. You never know when your shot is out there. And you gotta be ready whenever you gotta be on the field. Be ready.”
To be ready, Meiga says he has latched onto the competition that this offseason has permeated the room.
While head coach James Franklin has pointed to KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Tre Wallace as differentiating themselves among the receivers, a cluster of others has been vying to join the club.
Specifically on the outside with Meiga, which has included the influence of Penn State newcomer Malik McClain. Listed at 6-foot-4, 202 pounds, a carbon copy of Meiga, McClain has helped propel the rest of the room.
“He’s a very cool dude. He came in with the right attitude, he’s working hard. As a group, we’re working hard, and I think it’s going to pay off,” Meiga said. “It is all about the competition. That’s one of our core values. And we live by that.
“So, every day we come in, we compete as hard as we can go. And may the best man win. We’re competing every day. That’s the motto.”
Last season, Meiga played in 12 of Penn State’s 13 games. However, his biggest contributions and snap counts were garnered on special teams. Finishing with just three receptions for 19 yards, the contributions paled against his four tackles and a forced fumble on special teams. A leader on Stacy Collins’ coverage teams, the effort earned the program’s top honors for a special teams performance last year.
Determined to leap from a special teams maven into a weapon for Penn State’s offense, Meiga has dialed in his focus in a few particular areas. Among them, he said he’s been concentrating on his release and maximizing his speed.
Hoping to parlay those improvements into production deep down the field, Meiga added that the presence of sizable, speedy receivers presents a threat that can and must be taken advantage of for Penn State’s offense.
“I feel like we’re fast. We got to take advantage of that,” Meiga said. “We got great running backs in the backfield, so it is really on us.
“For me, I’m expecting a big year. Just keep working, keep working. It is all about the work. So keep your head down, keep working, and a breakthrough is coming soon.”
