STATE COLLEGE — Penn State ‘s wide receivers will be under heavy scrutiny as the Nittany Lions push to win a national championship in 2025. James Franklin knows that. Athletic director Pat Kraft knows that. Receivers coach Marques Hagans knows that better than anyone.
The last time reporters spoke with Hagans was after the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame on Jan. 9. Penn State came within a few points of beating the Irish and squaring off with Ohio State for the national title. At the Orange Bowl, on the biggest stage Franklin’s program has ever reached, the wideouts had zero catches.
Hagans, chatting with reporters after Tuesday’s spring practice, had no interest in rehashing the performance of his players in that CFP loss, saying: “We don’t live in the past.”
That may be true. But it’s impossible to separate what happened in that game — and what has happened over the last two years — with the position Hagans’ group finds itself in now.
The receiver room hit the reset button this offseason. Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans, last year’s leading receivers, transferred out. Troy’s Devonte Ross and USC’s Kyron Hudson transferred in. Inexperienced players and once-promising recruits are working to make an impact, working to make sure the receivers aren’t the topic of conversation after a loss.
Penn State has missed the presence of a difference-making wideout. In 2023 and 2024, big-game shortcomings have linked back to separation and explosiveness issues on the outside. Even the efforts of all-world tight end Tyler Warren couldn’t mask those problems last year.
It’s early in spring camp, and other areas of the team need to grow. But receiver is the biggest uncertainty on an offense and a team itching — and seemingly ready — to win it all.
Kraft said the quiet part out loud in February. Penn State’s AD didn’t shy away from the fact that a lack of production at receiver has held the program back. Kraft said it’s “not a secret” Penn State needs wideout help in the portal, which re-opens now in a couple of weeks.
Hagans was asked about Kraft’s candid remarks, and he agreed with them.
“We could always use help,” Hagans said. “The objective is always to be the best in the country at every position. We’re working to become that. And until we become that, yes, we do need help at receiver. We just have to keep building the room the right way, bringing in the right guys, and when the opportunity presents itself, we’ve got to perform at a high level.
“I love the guys we have. But the ultimate thing is to constantly get better. That’s nothing that the guys in the room would shy away from or feel a certain way about hearing. That’s recruiting. My job is to bring in the best guys in the country and replace the guys that are here. Their job is to make sure it doesn’t happen. And if we build that year after year, we’ll have a room full of guys that will become elite and be the best group in the country.”
Asked what he meant by “the right guys,” Hagans was honest.
“We’ve gotta find guys who love football and guys who are tough,” Hagans said. “Excuse my language, but guys who are tough as (heck). Like, if we played in the parking lot and you rolled the football out and we were gonna tackle, they wouldn’t (care). They just line up and play. We need guys like that. Guys smart enough to be able to take the things that we’re doing schematically and apply them on the field in a competitive setting against the best teams in the country. When that happens, those are the right guys.”
Hagans said his receivers are getting closer each and every day to meeting that high bar. But the assistant coach, now entering his third year with the program, also acknowledged there’s no time to waste for players like Ross, Hudson, Tyseer Denmark and Kaden Saunders.
Sure, it’s spring camp. Sure, the season doesn’t start for another five months. Penn State won’t really be tested until they face Oregon on Sept. 27.
But the goal is to win a national title. And considering the state of the room — and considering the portal re-opens April 16 — there’s a “heightened sense of urgency” this spring.
“Everybody’s time is now,” Hagans said. “We finished short last year of the ultimate goal, and we don’t have time to wait or build toward the next goal. This year is this year. This is it. So everybody’s time is right now. And the more that guys need to realize that they’ve got to go right now instead of waiting, our team will be better. Our group will be better. … Everybody’s (butt) has to be on fire, ready to go, show up, ready to work every day.”