Key Penn State Playmaker Could Return for the Peach Bowl
ATLANTA | Penn State brings a full offense to the Peach Bowl, one without any opt-outs or major injuries. Even better, the Nittany Lions could return one of their top offensive playmakers for the Dec. 30 game against Ole Miss.
Receiver Harrison (Trey) Wallace has been practicing with the Nittany Lions in Atlanta and is a game-time decision for Saturday's noon kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Players and coaches on Wednesday deferred that decision to head coach James Franklin but said that Wallace's return would boost a rejuvenated offense that scored 69 points in its final two regular-season games.
"We’re at the point now where we feel good about the kids we’re playing. He’s an added bonus, because now you get one of your better players back," Ja'Juan Seider, Penn State's co-offensive coordinator for the Peach Bowl, said Wednesday. "... If we get him for this game, it’s a win for Penn State."
Wallace began the season as one of Penn State's most important receivers. He made an immediate impact against West Virginia, catching seven passes for 72 yards, both career-highs, but sustained a lower-body injury during the game. That slowed Wallace's progress. After the home-opener against Delaware, when he caught three passes, Wallace went three games without a catch and did not play against Northwestern.
Wallace returned for a combined five catches against Massachusetts and Ohio State but sustained a separate injury in early November against Indiana. Wallace did not play during the season's final four games. He has been practicing in Atlanta, and quarterback Drew Allar said Wallace is back and "healthy." No one would tease the gameplan, but several players acknowledged how much Wallace's absence affected the offense.
"Having Trey back is something the offense needs," Allar said. "I think he brings a lot of positivity to that room. He's a very consistent receiver. Obviously, as we all know, he's a very explosive receiver vertically. I think he just brings a great work ethic to that room again, now that he's back healthy."
Seider held his Ole Miss gameplan close but seemed eager to deploy Wallace once again. Wallace's absence (Seider called him "Mr. Consistent") trickled through the offense. His return would elevate it.
"Trey practices like he’s a guy on the bottom of the depth chart working to be No. 1 on the depth chart," Seider said. "… The thing about having Trey, it takes a lot of pressure off [leading receiver] KeAndre [Lambert-Smith], and so losing him throughout the year definitely hurt us in the pass game."
Tight end Theo Johnson said Wallace emerged as an offensive threat during preseason training camp, when he consistently won battles with cornerback Kalen King. In fact, Johnson said Wallace "probably looked like our best receiver in camp."
"He and Kalen were going up against each other every day, and [Wallace] was cooking him," Johnson said. "Everyone looking at Trey in camp, it was clear that this guy is wide receiver No. 1. And then stuff started rolling in for him, and he’s had the year that he’s had. It’s unfortunate, but there’s still a lot of excitement because we know what he’s capable of."
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