The wide receiver room has been a notable weak spot for Penn State football this season.

It was an issue that plagued the team last season, and despite changing offensive coordinators and adding a former five-star via the transfer portal, the position is still a work in progress. This was especially evident in its 20-13 loss to Ohio State on Saturday.

Wide receivers Julian Fleming and Trey Wallace were the only wideouts to record a catch. The two combined for three receptions totaling 49 yards.

As a result, Penn State leaned on running back Nick Singleton and tight end Tyler Warren in the passing game. The duo accounted for 10 of the Nittany Lions’ 13 receptions.

Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s schematic prowess has made an impact for the Nittany Lions this season. He has shown he can get the best out of his players — the most obvious example is Warren being used at tight end, receiver, running back, quarterback, and even center this season. The senior currently leads the team in receiving with 606 yards on 51 receptions.

However, the same can’t be said about the wide receivers.

Fleming transferred from Ohio State in the offseason and brought hope he could rejuvenate his career at Penn State. Through seven games as a Nittany Lion, he ranks sixth on the team in receiving with 152 yards and 11 receptions.

Wallace, the team’s second-leading receiver, started the season strong with five catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns against West Virginia. Since then, he has totaled just 19 receptions for 278 yards through six games.

Although the wideouts have struggled in Big Ten play thus far, Warren was still confident in the receivers’ ability to produce.

“They’re a confident group, and there’s been multiple guys that have gone over 100 yards in games,” Warren said of the receivers. “They’ve shown what they can do.”

Quarterback Drew Allar also defended the wide receiver room from growing criticism during his media availability on Wednesday.

“They’ve had a great year this year, and they’re going to continue to build on it,” Allar said. “We have a lot of talent in that room, a lot of leadership in that room, and they’ve done great things that, even if they don’t show up in the passing column with catches and yards, they’re doing a lot in our run game.”

“I’ll defend them until the day I die,” the team captain added.

However, the issue isn’t a lack of support from teammates. The issue is the lackluster results on the field.

Penn State wide receivers haven’t recorded a catch of 30-plus yards since the UCLA game in early October. Wide receivers Liam Clifford and Omari Evans have yet to surpass four receptions in a single game, despite each showing the ability to make explosive plays. Clifford recorded 107 receiving yards against UCLA, while Evans racked up 116 yards against Kent State.

James Franklin noticed the lack of involvement from the group and noted the areas that need improvement.

“Getting our wide receivers more touches and opportunities is important,” Franklin said. “But we also have to create more separation, make more contested catches. All of those things.”

Penn State is set to take on Washington for its annual White Out game this Saturday. The Huskies boast one of the best passing defenses in the country, averaging 142 yards allowed per game.

Franklin stressed the importance of putting the Ohio State loss in the rear-view mirror and is focused on another challenge ahead.

“I think the most important thing for us is how we practice on Tuesday and how we practice on Wednesday,” Franklin said. “Most importantly, we have to get better this week and find a way to beat Washington.”