Penn State may not have a settled answer at receiver yet, but one freshman is already forcing his way into the conversation.
Amarion Jackson has emerged as a name to watch as the Nittany Lions try to sort out an unproven wideout group. With several incoming transfer receivers in the mix and Rocco Becht taking over at quarterback, Penn State is trying to build chemistry quickly, and Jackson could be one of the early beneficiaries.
Brad Crawford recently included Jackson among the freshmen expected to make an immediate impact this season. Crawford pointed to the Nebraska native’s rise this spring and his push to earn a role in the rotation.
“A spring riser for the Nittany Lions, Jackson's pushing to crack the rotation at wide receiver in Happy Valley ahead of Matt Campbell's first campaign. Assuming Penn State's starters are Iowa State transfers Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen and sophomore Koby Howard, Jackson hopes to crack that next tier of potential targets for new quarterback Rocco Becht, who was the Cyclones ' previous starter for multiple seasons. Jackson, a three-star signee out of Omaha, Nebraska, arrived as a defensive back before quickly converting to a wideout.”
That kind of early momentum matters even more with Becht now settling in behind center. If Jackson keeps trending upward, he could become a real part of the passing game before long.
And when Penn State faces a potentially improved USC defense under Gary Patterson in Week 8, Jackson could be the kind of first-year receiver who changes the feel of the matchup. For the Trojans, it may be a chance to make sure Becht’s Big Ten introduction is anything but comfortable.
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