Offseason Optimism: Penn State receivers set up for better success in 2024

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•02/09/24•

ThomasFrankCarr

Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught three of five targets on deep passes in 2022. He caught four of 14 in 2023 for virtually the same yardage. Can new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki unlock the talented senior? (© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK)

The winter months can be a long and lonely time for college football fans, especially if their team ends the year with a loss. That is the case this year for Penn State football fans who saw the Nittany Lions fall in the Peach Bowl last December. That's why we're trying to lift spirits in February with one aspect of each position group on offense that was a strength last season. We're selecting things from advanced data that tell a positive story and one that can translate to 2024. Today, we're reviewing the Penn State wide receiver room.  Yet this analysis is more complex than the previous examinations of the offense. There were significant disruptions at the position due to injury. Despite the opportunity, no significant data points stand out for this group. So, instead, we'll be looking at the situation heading into 2024 from a more schematic standpoint.