Last season, Penn State football’s offense consisted of an elite running back duo in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, with the passing game going through Tyler Warren. Although it had some highlights, the receiver room was once again an afterthought.

After the departure of Trey Wallace and Omari Evans, the Nittany Lions brought in some reinforcements in the transfer portal with Devonte Ross from Troy and Kyron Hudson from USC. Alongside the two additions, Liam Clifford, Anthony Ivey, and Tyseer Denmark are the only returning receivers who recorded a catch last year.

Penn State’s offensive recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach Marques Hagans, however, is more than happy with the receiver room after the first week of spring practices.

“They’re just Penn State guys out there playing football on day one. I think the guys are excited to be here. I think the guys are working hard collectively as a group,” Hagans said Tuesday. “I’m encouraged by the way we show up every day, prepared, ready to work, and really playing for each other. I really am encouraged by that.”

In the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, Penn State’s passing offense stuttered. No wide receiver secured a catch, while both running backs and three tight ends brought in 12 total receptions. According to Hagans, he understands that the fanbase is passionate about the team and that some routes didn’t work in the receivers’ favor.

“I think you have to compartmentalize it at times. You can use it for motivation at different parts of the year and then during the season or as you get close to the season. That’s something you really can’t pay attention to because we got a job to do,” Hagans said. “If it ain’t happening in 2025, we don’t talk about it. We don’t live in the past.”

Ross and Hudson, joining the program a few months ago, headlined the winter transfer portal action for the Nittany Lions. The program has high expectations for all position groups, but it’s had a glaring sore spot at the wideout position for the past two seasons.

“We could always use help. I think the objective is to be the best in the country at every position, and we’re working to become that,” Hagans said. “Until we become that, then yes, we do need help for our receivers. We just have to keep building the room the right way, bringing in the right guys, and then when the opportunity presents, we just have to perform at a high level.”

Although the transfer portal has grown in popularity, and many take their talents elsewhere if they’re not the star player, Liam Clifford has stood his ground and remained with the program for his redshirt senior season. To Hagans, Clifford is a veteran presence in the room and has been nothing short of what is expected of a tenured receiver at Penn State.

“He’s a great leader. He’s a great example. He loves his team. He’s selfless,” Hagans said. “He just shows up and works every day and takes the young guys underneath his wing on how to recover, how to rest, and how to put schedules together throughout the week. He’s very necessary, and I’m grateful to be his coach.”

Clifford parroted his coach’s wisdom about staying the course and working to get better every day. The senior wide receiver has been a piece of the Nittany Lion offense longer than anybody in his position group.

As spring practices roll on, the wide receiver group will be one to look out for as the melding between freshmen, transfers, and veterans try to create an explosive and reliable group that propels the Penn State offense to new heights in the upcoming season.

“It’s interesting. It’s kind of how college football is now, but it’s been cool to kind of be able to get different personalities and different people from different places in the room,” Clifford said. “To see how they operate, to have them bring in different things they’ve learned from other places and bring it here. It’s been cool.”