DeAndre Thompkins recovers from slow start, sparks Penn State to win

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The first two weeks of Penn State's season had not been kind to wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins – zero receptions, a couple of dropped passes in the rain at Pittsburgh – and he wasn't in the starting lineup Saturday against Kent State.

But Thompkins, a fifth-year senior, recovered. His first reception of 2018 was a diving, full-extension catch in the end zone of a 40-yard pass from Trace McSorley, and another 39-yard catch set up a touchdown in the Nittany Lions' 63-10 rout of the Golden Flashes.

"Going into this game, I had a mission and a mind-set to prove to everyone and myself that I'm still the best receiver in the country," he said, "and just capitalize on my opportunities because that's something unfortunately that I didn't do last game … prove to myself that you can make the big play and you are a big-play guy."

Thompkins, who returned a punt 39 yards for a touchdown against Pitt, finished with four catches for 101 yards. He said his teammates kept him positive, "always constantly being in my ear, letting me know that it's just an unfortunate happening and just have a short memory and come back and capitalize on the next play."

Thompkins' hometown of Swansboro, N.C., was affected by Hurricane Florence. He said he mother was able to evacuate, and attended Saturday's game.

"My mother got the chance to get out of the way," he said. "To have her here and not have to worry about her is a good benefit and weight off my shoulders. I am just happy that she came up and got away from it."

Defensive end Shareef Miller remembers making his collegiate debut two years ago against Kent State and racking up a pair of sacks, an accomplishment he repeated in this year's meeting with the Golden Flashes.

"That's kind of funny because I got two sacks in the second half freshman year and this year," said Miller, a redshirt junior from George Washington High School. "From freshman year to now, I'm just more mature. I know the game more. Everything has slowed down to me so I can have better reaction, stuff like that."

After the Golden Flashes went 75 yards on their first drive, the Nittany Lions held them to 146 total yards and three points the rest of the way. Miller said a key was holding dual-threat quarterback Woody Barrett in check.

"We knew he was an athletic quarterback," he said. "He was big and he was fast. So we just wanted to corral him, just make him uncomfortable."

Although he participated in warm-ups, cornerback John Reid (St. Joseph's Prep) was held out of his second straight game because of an undisclosed injury. But he still was giving advice on the sideline to sophomore Tariq Castro-Fields, who started in his place.

"John's probably the smartest guy in the room and he kind of gives us advice as far as film," Castro-Fields said. "He helps me a whole lot just seeing little things. When I come off the sideline he's like, 'What did you see?' 'You could play this better.' He's just a big help."

The Nittany Lions played 13 true freshmen Saturday and have utilized a total of 15 in the first three games. … Trace McSorley's three rushing touchdowns gave him 24 for his career, breaking the school record for most rushing TDs by a quarterback (22) held by Daryll Clark. McSorley also surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for his career, and is now at 1,042. … Sean Clifford's 95-yard touchdown pass to Daniel George in the fourth quarter broke the program mark for longest completion, a 92-yard pass from Bill Hess to Bob Higgins in 1919.