Spring ball starts this week. Here are 3 questions Penn State will be looking to answer

Penn State football will begin spring ball Tuesday heading into a season filled with questions and expectations. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 10-3 season in Drew Allar’s first season as the starting quarterback. Now, Allar has a new weapon on the outside in Julian Fleming and higher expectations heading into 2024.

Let’s take a look at three questions for the spring about Fleming and the rest of the Nittany Lions.

Who — if anyone — steps up at wide receiver?

Surprise, surprise. The question everyone was asking last year is the one everyone will be asking this year. Penn State struggled at wide receiver in a major way last season, and that led to some changes in the room during the transfer portal window, even if those alterations aren’t as numerous as some expected. Gone are Dante Cephas, who spent one year with the program and entered the transfer portal after the season, and Cristian Driver, who was unable to crack the rotation in a major way in 2023 — two players who were on opposite ends of the playtime spectrum heading into 2024.

In their stead is Fleming — a former five-star recruit who began his career with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Fleming was never a No. 1 wide receiver at OSU but was able to consistently contribute when he was healthy. And while adding one player from the portal won’t overhaul the room, it could have a massive impact when it comes to putting the puzzle pieces together.

The two players Penn State head coach James Franklin frequently mentioned as trusting at the position — Harrison Wallace III and KeAndre Lambert-Smith — were asked to step into larger roles last season and their production did not meet what the team needed. Wallace is best suited as a No. 2 option right now, while Lambert-Smith is best suited in the slot. They’re both likely to be put in those roles with Fleming as the No. 1 receiver, which could allow them to thrive with less weight on their shoulders. And Fleming could reach the upside many saw from him in high school and have a breakout campaign in his final year of college. This spring will provide the first indications of how impactful he can be and what his presence can do for the rest of the receiver room.

How big of an impact can Kotelnicki have?

The wide receivers stepping into more fitting roles would be great for the Nittany Lions, but nothing will matter more than what Andy Kotelnicki is able to accomplish as the team’s new offensive coordinator. There’s no disputing that Penn State’s offense was the reason the program didn’t reach the expectations set for it in 2023, and now must step up in order for that not to be the case this season.

Fortunately for the Nittany Lions, Kotelnicki’s past points to that being the case. He’s continually produced high-level offenses and should be able to maximize the talent on Penn State’s roster. Of course, the players will have to execute, but Kotelnicki should put them in position to succeed. Specifically, his rushing attack could lead to career years for both Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen at running back, while his creativity in the passing game should open things up for Allar, Fleming and the rest of the team’s offensive weapons.

The educated guess here is that the impact Kotelnicki will have will be a substantial one and this spring will be the beginning of a fruitful stay for him as the program’s offensive coordinator.

Who fills the vacated spots on defense?

The defense hasn’t had many questions asked about it as the offense, which may be fair given the program’s history of producing quality defenses over the last decade, but there are still gaps that need to be filled. The Nittany Lions are losing all three starting cornerbacks in Daequan Hardy, Johnny Dixon and Kalen King, a starting linebacker in Curtis Jacobs and both starting defensive ends in Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, from last year’s team — all five of which are likely to be taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Some of the solutions are more simple than others. Dani Dennis-Sutton will step into a starting defensive end job, and so will Abdul Carter after moving to the position from linebacker — where he will likely be replaced by Tony Rojas. Cam Miller played plenty of snaps at corner and should be one of the starters on the outside. Those moves, and a shift to more five defensive back looks — if one happens — should take care of the openings in the trenches and at the linebacker level. At that point, it’s just a matter of who the team’s slot other outside cornerback and fifth defensive back are.

The Nittany Lions have plenty of options there, with incoming transfers Jalen Kimber and A.J. Harris likely competing for starting jobs along with returning contributors Elliot Washington II, Zion Tracy and King Mack. This spring will go a long way in determining which players are starting and how the defense will be shaped on the back end.