Effective ball distribution benefitting Penn State offensively heading into showdown at USC

A common refrain among Penn State coaches and players heading into this season was a desire to be better about getting the ball to the program’s most explosive players.

As the Nittany Lions got underway, some of those candidates were well known, such as tight end Tyler Warren and Swiss army knife backup quarterback Beau Pribula.

Others, like Ohio State receiver transfer Julian Fleming, arrived in State College with something to prove.

The Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) also looked to several returning players, including receivers Harrison Wallace and Liam Clifford, to step up and assert themselves more within the offense.

Through five games, all of those players have been able to shine, putting their skill sets to good use for Penn State, ranked No. 4 nationally ahead of Saturday’s road game at Southern Cal.

“I think we are doing a good job of getting the ball in our playmakers’ hands,” coach James Franklin said. “Specifically, the guys that have been proven commodities already here at Penn State. I still think there’s some guys, specifically at the wide receiver position, that we have to continue to get the ball in their hands to develop that aspect of our offense.”

Heading into Los Angeles, quarterback Drew Allar has thrown touchdown passes to seven targets.

Warren leads the way with three and also paces the team in catches (23) and yards (289).

Additionally, six players have a reception of at least 20 yards.

For first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, that variety is intentional.

Allar, who has completed 70.9% of his passes for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns so far, credits that spreading of the wealth to Kotelnicki.

“I think it starts with the offensive staff and coach (Kotelnicki), designing guys to get open as the primary receiver,” Allar said. “I think that’s why we’ve seen a lot of that this year. There’s been a handful of plays where I’m getting the ball out quick to the primary on either deep shots or intermediate passes.

“It’s different guys every time that we’re trying to scheme open and I think that’s a big part of it, why there’s so much ball distribution. And at the end of the day, it’s just taking what the defense gives me. If whoever’s open, just give them an accurate football and let them make a play after the catch.”

The greater extent to which Penn State can continue to do that, the harder the Nittany Lions are to stop.

Allar attested to witnessing firsthand how opposing defenses have responded to having to keep tabs on so many different players.

“The last two games, I think we’ve seen kind of a shift on third down, just from what (teams) have ran previously and had a high tendency of doing,” Allar said. “Just playing a little more two high zones in general against us. … I think every play that we call in a game has the intention of getting the ball to our playmakers in space.”

Also working in Penn State’s favor so far is a solid ground game, with tailbacks Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen leading the way for a Nittany Lions rushing attack that’s averaging 217.8 yards.

Both Singleton, who didn’t play last week vs. UCLA because of injury, and Allen also have touchdown receptions this year.

While his status will remain up in the air until kickoff at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Singleton was practicing this week in State College and appears trending towards a return.

The Nittany Lions departed for California on Thursday, beginning an extended weekend of travel.

Awaiting their arrival at L.A. Memorial Coliseum is a Trojans squad that was stunned on the road at Minnesota.

As a result of falling to the unranked Gophers, 24-17, USC was bounced from the AP Top-25 poll, dropping from No. 11 to unofficially No. 26 in the nation.

With the Trojans licking their wounds and Penn State looking to stay undefeated, Allar is looking forward to kickoff.

“For us, we get an opportunity to go on the road and play a very talented team,” he said. “They’re very athletic, very talented so it’s going to be a fun game no matter what.”