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James Franklin discusses impact of Pat Freiermuth, KJ Hamler in creating offensive opportunities
By Paul Harvey
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Penn State’s offense is about as balanced as they come, and TE Pat Freiermuth and WR KJ Hamler are playing a big role in that balance.
The Nittany Lions offense is averaging 274.2 yards through the air but complements their attack with an average of 191.7 yards on the ground. With Hamler and Freiermuth around, a lot of space is open on any given play.
Head coach James Franklin discussed their impact on Wednesday, and he admitted that teams focus on the duo because of how dangerous they are. Fortunately, that focus opens up a lot of opportunities for the rest of the Nittany Lions offense:
Franklin on Pat Freiermuth: "Right now, people go into us making sure that KJ [Hamler] and Pat Freiermuth can't wreck the game. That mentality from other people creates opportunities for other players."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) October 16, 2019
Through six games, Hamler (26) and Freiermuth (17) lead Penn State in receptions. They are also first and third in receiving yards, respectively.
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There’s no denying Penn State will still look to play the offense through its biggest playmakers. Still, Franklin’s team has shown it is not scared to use every player. A total of 12 different Nittany Lion players have scored at least one rushing or receiving touchdown this season. Hopefully, that trend continues against Michigan.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.