Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1492675
5 4 M A R C H 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M O P I N I O N THOMAS FRANK CARR TFRANK.CARR@ON3.COM P enn State's coaches made it very clear this offseason that they wanted to upgrade the wide re- ceiver position through the transfer portal. After a hectic first window, the team landed two wideouts: Malik McClain, formerly of Florida State, and Dante Cephas, formerly of Kent State. To understand what these two play- ers will bring to the Nittany Lions, it's important to bear in mind the general descriptions of the X, Z and slot re- ceiver positions. Generally speaking, the X receiver is the team's top target. This player is stationed on the line of scrimmage and battles the opposing team's top cornerback on each play. The X must be good at defeating combat at the line of scrimmage. He needs to have good separation skills and must be a reli- able high-volume target. Of the three receiver positions, this one requires the most well-rounded player, someone who can get open at each field level and create a reliable target for the quarter- back. The Z receiver lines up on the op- posite side of the field from the X, positioning himself at the edge of the offensive formation. As the other out- side receiver, the Z is sometimes lined up on the line of scrimmage, but less frequently. The Z can share character- istics with the X but is more of a deep- route specialist. Because he's given off-man cover- age more than the X, the Z can get downfield somewhat easier. Of course, this is a general rule, and defenses can use press coverage on any player they choose. Finally, we have the slot receiver. This player needs elite agility, because he has a two-way go on each play and can run routes inside or outside. Be- cause he's inside the formation, he needs to line up off the line of scrim- mage to be an eligible receiver. This alignment protects him from aggres- sive press coverage, allowing smaller, quicker players to flourish inside the formation. In recent years, offensive coordina- tors have found ways to use more- prominent players in the slot position. Fourth-year junior KeAndre Lambert- Smith can be one of those players for Penn State. While he has the body type of a Z receiver at 6-foot-1, 176 pounds, his lateral agility makes him a candidate to move inside. With the addition of Cephas and McClain, who played the X and Z spots previously, Lambert-Smith should be free to make that move. Where exactly McClain and Cephas fit into the offense will depend on their skills and how they work best with each other. Of the two, Cephas is the older, more mature player. He's a 6-1, 175-pound redshirt senior with a good frame. He's also an excellent separator at the line of scrimmage and a great route runner. Cephas played the X for Kent State and has the skills to do so in the Big Ten. McClain, a junior, dwarfs his team- mates at 6-4, 200 pounds. He's a great X body type but doesn't have the route-running chops of Cephas. He does have the physical skills to cre- ate separation, though. Of the two, he could be the more complete player at the position long term. If we're building a lineup for next season, McClain's long speed and size make him a deep threat that fans should be excited about. He's shown strength at the catch point, dynamism in his route running, and enough po- tential to get open. The final complicating factor is that Cephas hasn't yet enrolled at Penn State. He needs to graduate from Kent State first, which he'll do in the spring. Can Cephas jump in after spring practice and establish himself as the team's top receiver? He's an excellent fit for the X position next fall, but con- sistency and reliability are paramount. Even with that, the best lineup for next season likely has Cephas playing the X role, McClain rotating at the Z, and Lambert-Smith in the slot. How- ever, all three of those receivers have played multiple positions and have the skills to play others. We could eas- ily see McClain working at the X this spring to see if he can handle the posi- tion, with Lambert-Smith bouncing between X, Z and the slot. More than anything, this exercise should show that the Penn State staff did enough to surround its young quar- terbacks with the proper mix of talent. Cephas and McClain fit well together with the players the roster already boasts. With some luck, they could be the perfect mix to elevate the offense this coming fall. ■ Florida State transfer Malik McClain signed with Penn State in January and enrolled immediately. The 6-4, 200-pound junior will participate in spring practice. PHOTO COURTESY WARCHANT.COM Transfer Additions Will Boost Penn State's Receiving Corps Upon Further Review