When Penn State entered this season the plan was to see four true freshman take the field each week. So far that has happened as planned for three of the “green lighted” freshman, corner John Reid, receiver Brandon Polk, and running back Saquon Barkley.
The missing piece to that puzzle, a towering 6-foot-4 Juwan Johnson whose size and athleticism was set to make him a threat in the ever expanding receiving corps.
That hasn’t happened though. A development that shouldn’t come as a huge shock though. Penn State’s downfield passing attack has been sparse at best. The addition of Johnson to the mix isn’t the kind of thing that’s going to change that. With a full stable of receivers already hitting the field, there’s no compelling reason to get Johnson involved as well. If anything it’s too many cooks in the kitchen.
So for now, Johnson is the next man up if the need arises.
“Juwan went really from a green back to a yellow when we didn’t play him in the first couple weeks,” head coach James Franklin said Tuesday. “With the depth that we have at wide out, we think him and [fellow freshman receiver] Irvin [Charles] can both be really special.
“Just with the depth that we have at wide out right now, we don’t feel it’s necessary.”
While it does appear that Johnson is headed towards a redshirt season, that really could change at a moments notice. Freshman linebackers Jake Cooper and Manny Bowen both got tossed into the line of duty after Nyeem Wartman-White and Brandon Bell picked up injuries.
Both Cooper and Bowen had to burn a redshirt year in the process, but it goes to show that anyone can go from a “depth player” to a starter in a single play.
All of this is ultimately consistent with Franklin’s player management style. As Penn State has been perhaps destined to struggle in the early years of his tenure, Franklin has stayed focused on future.
Only time will tell if the plan actually works, but if stays true to form, don’t expect Franklin to change his mind on Johnson unless he absolutely has to.
