Penn State Football: 3 players with most to prove in 2020

Penn State’s leading receiver from last season KJ Hamler is now in the NFL. Highly-touted recruit Justin Shorter transferred to Florida after never quite finding his stride at Penn State. It’s up to Jahan Dotson and a very talented but limited experience receiving corps to lead the Lions’ offense this fall.

In addition to the departures of Hamler and Shorter, James Franklin is now on his fourth wide receivers coach in as many years. Josh Gattis left for the offensive coordinator job at Michigan after the 2017 season. His replacement David Corley did not work out and Franklin let him go after the 2018 season. Gerad Parker only lasted a season as well before taking the West Virginia offensive coordinator job.

Now the position falls to Taylor Stubblefield. Big Ten fans may remember Stubblefield as the all-time leading receiver in the conference when he was at Purdue from 2001 through 2004.

Dotson is the Nittany Lions leading returning receiver. In his two years at Penn State, he has only 40 receptions for 691 yards and five touchdowns, the bulk of the stats coming last season. He is the only returning receiver with at least eight receptions.

There are a lot of young guys looking to make a name for themselves at the receiver position. Dotson has to lead by example. He is not a very vocal guy but if he can have a breakout year, his leadership will show through his play. If Penn State’s offense is to help make the team a contender, Dotson and the receivers must play a big part.