Penn State’s Harrison Wallace III emerges as a pass-catching threat with 2 TDs

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Harrison Wallace III put on a show Saturday in Penn State’s season-opening 34-12 win over West Virginia. Wallace had a career day, eclipsing 100 yards, scoring two touchdowns and, if there was any doubt, establishing himself as the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions’ No. 1 wide receiver.

To some, Wallace’s performance might have come out of nowhere. Last year, he had a promising opener against West Virginia, then struggled with injuries to stay on the field. Coach James Franklin and teammates talked him up last offseason, and his potential was never realized.

On Saturday, it was. And it didn’t come as a surprise to Wallace’s teammates.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr. said. “I’ve seen way more difficult catches in camp. I just knew he was going to come out and make plays.”

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar added: “We saw Tre be who we always thought he was.”

Wallace’s ability to be a No. 1 receiver was apparent as he hauled in five catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. And his rapport with Allar was obvious early.

Allar’s first completion of the 2024 season went to Wallace, an 18-yard gain in the first quarter. Two plays later, Wallace snared a 14-yard catch. And on the next snap, Allar zipped a deep cross to Wallace, and he did the rest on a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

Later in the first half, Wallace made his presence felt again. Penn State had an opportunity to take a quick shot to the end zone with 10 seconds left before the break. From 18 yards out, after Allar’s 50-yard heave to Omari Evans, the second-year starting quarterback looked Wallace’s way again for one of the smoothest touchdowns you’ll see this season.

Wallace made a beeline for the end zone and created just enough separation from his defender to give Allar a window to throw for an 18-yard score. Falling backward, Wallace secured Allar’s perfectly thrown fade to give the Nittany Lions an insurmountable 20-6 lead.

“Drew gave me a chance,” Wallace said. “Time was running down in the half, and I knew I had to go out there and make a play for him.”

That’s something Penn State’s offense was lacking last season. The wide receivers weren’t the only problem. Mike Yurcich faltered as the offensive coordinator. Allar was far from perfect. But for the vast majority of 2023, especially in Penn State’s biggest games, the wide receivers struggled to create separation. They struggled to go out there and make a play.

Wallace didn’t struggle to do that on Saturday. He thrived when given the opportunity.

It is worth remembering that it was just one game. Wallace has to stay healthy; he had seven catches for 72 yards in the opener last year before injuries derailed his 2023 season. But if he stays healthy, there’s confidence that with Allar playing more freely and confidently under new play-caller Andy Kotelnicki, there will be more chances for Wallace to make his mark.

“Tre’s been outstanding since camp. He leads that wide receiver room, and he’s got to keep going,” running back Nick Singleton said. “But a hell of a game from him.”

Penn State hosts Bowling Green on Saturday at noon. The game will be televised by the Big Ten Network. The Associated Press college football rankings will be announced on Tuesday.