Is a late arriving playmaker ready to make a difference against Michigan?

Penn State football had about as strong of a performance as you could hope to see heading into its biggest game of the season. With Michigan on the horizon, the Nittany Lions traveled to College Park last weekend, where they dominated Maryland 51-15.

The scoring outburst was much needed for the Penn State offense, which was struggling through the second half of the season. Leading the way was the Nittany Lion passing game, headlined by an unexpected star in wide receiver Dante Cephas. Now, many are wondering if we just witnessed the coming out party for an emerging star in the Penn State aerial attack.

It changes everything

Penn State football nabbed one of the more noteworthy transfer portal additions of the offseason when it landed Kent State wide receiver Dante Cephas. After a stellar career for the Golden Flashes, Cephas came to Happy Valley ready to prove himself on the biggest stages.

However, like many of the Nittany Lions’ wide receivers, the production hasn’t been there for Cephas this fall. The redshirt senior has been in and out of the lineup as a clear second receiver has yet to emerge behind KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Bothered by drops on several occasions, Cephas had a meager 11 receptions for 146 yards through seven games played this year.

But that changed Saturday at Maryland. Cephas put together a career day as a Nittany Lion against the Terrapins, hauling in 6 catches for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns.

After the win, James Franklin highlighted how Cephas’s performance could impact the Penn State offense.

“It changes everything,” Franklin said. “When there’s one guy that people are concerned about, a lot of defenses can figure out a way to make that challenging. But now there’s multiple guys. The tight ends, multiple receivers that are making plays. It’s a real positive. Hopefully, it’s a big confidence boost for him and for us as well, and we can build on it.”

Can Cephas continue to be a playmaker against Michigan?

James Franklin wasn’t the only one impressed by Cephas’s breakout day against the Terrapins. On this week’s episode of Ki and Juice, Penn State legends Ki-Jana Carter and OJ McDuffie broke down what the transfer wide receiver’s performance means for the Nittany Lions.

“I think it’s about time that Cephas showed he’s the opposite of K-Lamb [Lambert-Smith],” McDuffie said. “He’s had his opportunities; he’s had a couple drops and I think they kind of went away from him. But he showed he can be the No. 2 opposite our No. 1 guy.”

While Cephas’s play was a welcomed boost against Maryland, it will be another thing if he can have a similar game this weekend. Michigan football comes into this game with the top passing defense in the nation. Combined with the top scoring defense and the ninth-ranked rushing defense, the Penn State offense will have its work cut out for it on Saturday.

However, Cephas could be the missing piece that the Nittany Lions need to get through this closing stretch of the season unblemished.

“We’re going to need, especially going into the last three games, we got to show that K-Lamb is the priority, but we do have another receiver on the other side,” Carter said. “That if you double him [Lambert-Smith] can make some good plays too. It was good to see him out there playing well…You know, when you have one good game, that can propel your confidence.”

Kickoff between Penn State football and Michigan is set for noon Saturday on FOX.