Malik McClain Makes Quick Impact at Penn State

'He wants us to be able to depend on him,' quarterback Drew Allar said of the Lions' new receiver from Florida State.

Penn State's opening-week win over West Virginia shed some light on a handful of offseason position battles, notably at wide receiver, which entered the game with lingering questions. One key stat line belonged to Malik McClain, who caught four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown, generating a confidence boost for the group. For quarterback Drew Allar, the receiver from Florida State has proven to be a reliable addition to the offense.

"I think we can all depend on him. He wants us to be able to depend on him," Allar said. "And I think he did a great job of that throughout camp and obviously the first game of the season."

McClain, a junior who stands at an eye-popping 6-4 and 206 pounds, showed a knack for the big play with the Seminoles. He was Florida State's newcomer of the year in 2021 and caught five touchdown passes in two seasons. But McClain's playing time gradually decreased, and he turned to the transfer portal. At Penn State, McClain has thrived early. Against West Virginia, McClain caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the second half and earned the team's player-of-the-week award on special teams.

“He's been just a wonderful addition to our football family," Penn State coach James Franklin said. "That guy has got a smile on his face all the time. He's been a really nice addition and he's done a really good job, not just from a production standpoint, but from a cultural standpoint."

As is common with Penn State transfers, Franklin recruited McClain out of high school, which became a driving factor in targeting him from the portal. McClain, who is from Daphne, Alabama, and played at IMG Academy in Florida, actually listed Penn State among his top three schools in high school. He chose Florida State, in part, to stay closer to home in 2021 due to COVID. McClain said he already knew where he was going when he entered the portal this offseason, citing that relationship with Franklin.

"I know he always wants the best for his players in any situation," McClain said. "He's never going to put you in a bad situation that he wouldn't want one of his own family to be in. So I knew coming here, he would really have my best interest."

McClain also emphasized his desire to enroll in the spring so he could learn the playbook more efficiently. That has paid off, as McClain works his way toward securing the third starting receiver spot alongside KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Tre Wallace. McClain celebrated his touchdown Saturday night by throwing up a one on each hand with his arms crossed, which he said doesn’t have much meaning outside of his No. 11 jersey.

"It was ‘Wow,'" McClain said of his first Beaver Stadium score. "I really didn’t know what to do, so I just did what I used to do right off the bit almost."

McClain said he has changed "greatly" as a receiver since coming to Penn State. He also admitted he's not a "shifty guy" and has embraced being a physical, big-bodied receiver, which Penn State has been missing for some time.

"I've had a lot of mindset changes for myself, creating new habits," he said. "Just work- ethic type deal. I feel like I've been doing a good job."

McClain has received rave reviews from teammates throughout the offseason. Tight end Theo Johnson named him alongside Wallace as the guys most flying under the radar during camp. Quarterbacks Allar and Beau Pribula consistently mention the work he’s put in at practice. Allar called McClain "one of the hardest workers on the team by far."

"Very blue collar. Just work, work, work," McClain said of the culture at Penn State. "Don’t pick your head up until you’re holding the trophy somewhere."

More on Penn State

Penn State Football on SI.com

How Penn State's Drew Allar plays "loose, free and confident"

Beau Pribula, Penn State's 'smooth operator' at quarterback, makes his debut

James Franklin 'comfortable' with Penn State scoring late TD vs. West Virginia

Kicker Sander Sahaydak addresses teammates after tough game vs. West Virginia

Penn State's Abdul Carter charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession

'That's just the beginning,' Penn State receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith says

Week 1 takeaways: How Drew Allar changed the offense

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.