Excitement continues to build regarding the future of a promising, young Penn State receiving corps but Saturday night provided an opportunity to appreciate the past. A trio of former Nittany Lions receivers warranted attention during NFL preseason action, each for a unique reason.
Let’s begin in Nashville, where the Tennessee Titans hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This matchup provided the latest opportunity for Chris Godwin to continue his breakout process with the Buccaneers.
Godwin, who ranks fourth all-time in Penn State history with 18 career touchdown catches, reached the end zone twice on Saturday night, though his second-quarter 20-yard scoring reception was nullified by a holding penalty. His next trip to the end zone did indeed result in points.
He secured a contested eight-yard touchdown toss from Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston, providing the team with a 13-7 lead late in the first half.
Godwin has established a reputation as a receiver who can bring the ball down in traffic. Surrounded by Tennessee defenders, he served up another reminder.
Is that Chris Godwin’s music?! Winston escapes the pressure and connects with Godwin for 6.#GoBucs | #TBvsTEN pic.twitter.com/m1fGJz3b98
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 19, 2018
Godwin, who added another catch for three yards during a 30-14 Buccaneers victory, seems primed to play a pivotal role in the Tampa Bay aerial attack this season.
“Chris is playing really well right now,” Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said earlier this month, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “We look at it as if we have four starting receivers. All four of those guys, the only guy that really hasn’t been a starter (in the NFL) is Chris. The other three have been, and we believe Chris is every bit in that same category.”
Godwin, who was Tampa Bay’s third-round draft choice in 2017, finished his rookie season with 34 receptions for 525 yards and one touchdown. He punctuated that campaign with a 111-yard performance against the New Orleans Saints that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Meanwhile, a pair of former Penn State receivers shared the field in Denver. They didn’t deliver Godwin-like fireworks on Saturday night but a matchup between the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos provided deeper meaning for DaeSean Hamilton and Allen Robinson.
Hamilton, who didn’t catch a pass in his Aug. 11 preseason debut, posted his first reception in a professional game for the Broncos. It came courtesy of an 18-yard competition from Denver quarterback Case Keenum.
Later in the first quarter, he was targeted in the end zone.
Play 1:
•Accelerates out of break
•Works into second windowPlay 2:
•Stems 1 yard outside of DB
•Head nod to the corner gets DB on his heels
•Positions frame inbetween DB + catchpointThe key to redzone prowess for Slot WR’s is the ability to win inside pic.twitter.com/L4MRtgI7Wn
— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) August 19, 2018
Last season, Hamilton became the Nittany Lions’ all-time leader in career receptions (214). The Broncos selected in him in round No. 4 of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Denver suffered a 24-23 loss to Chicago but, considering Hamilton ran routes with the first-team offense and checked that first catch off his list, it was a positive night for the Penn State product.
On the opposite sideline at Mile High Stadium, former Nittany Lions star Allen Robinson returned to action for the first time in nearly a full year. He made his game day debut with Chicago after sitting out of the team’s first two preseason contests.
Robinson didn’t record a catch in his abbreviated appearance but it represented a crucial step in a lengthy recovery from injury. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the 2017 season opener while playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bears signed Robinson to a three-year, $42 million deal in March. Last week, as it became clear Chicago was ready to give him some game reps, he expressed enthusiasm about being able to compete again.
“It’s something I’m ready for and excited for,” Robinson said, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s been awhile. I’ve put the work in every day, trying to get better and perfect my craft.”
Robinson — a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft — started 41 of his 43 games with Jacksonville, collecting 202 receptions for 2,848 yards and 22 touchdowns. He posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Penn State (2012 and 2013), scoring 17 times with the Nittany Lions.
Saeed Blacknall, another former Penn State receiver who is now an Oakland Raiders rookie, was held without a catch on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. He previously caught a 21-yard pass in his Aug. 10 preseason opener vs. the Detroit Lions.
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