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His biggest play in a Penn State uniform so far is a blocked punt, not a catch. But Juwan Johnson’s name keeps coming up during spring practice.

Entering his redshirt sophomore season, the 6-foot-4 wide receiver is making his case to step up in an offense that must replace top target Chris Godwin.

The Nittany Lions have plenty of options — DaeSean Hamilton, Saeed Blacknall and DeAndre Thompkins all have starting experience — but Johnson has stood out so far in the spring.

“He just has taken a very mature approach, very aggressive approach, all offseason,” Lions coach James Franklin said Wednesday on the Big Ten spring coaches teleconference. “It’s kind of like he redshirted as a freshman, then played a little as a true freshman and now he kind of has it figured out what he needs to do to be successful with our team.”

Last season, Johnson appeared in all 14 games, but worked mostly on special teams.

He had two catches for 70 yards, but his biggest impact came in November when he blocked a punt early in the second half at Rutgers to help break the game open.

Fellow receiver and classmate Irvin Charles — he of the season-altering touchdown against Minnesota — had been receiving the highest praise from Franklin in the past year, Johnson’s consistency has made an impression.

“He’s a mature guy, and he’s a smart guy. So he’s really just kind of made a significant jump from the end of the season to now,” Franklin said. “And it’s been kind of him identifying what his strengths and weaknesses are, and saying, ‘I’m going to work hard at these areas and make those weaknesses strengths.’

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. I think we all know he’s got some special physical abilities, and it’s all coming together for him right now.”

No news on Reid

Speaking for the first time since the original Lions247 report that cornerback John Reid has been sidelined with a serious knee injury, Franklin declined to address the situation.

“I’m happy to talk about practice, and I’m happy to talk about guys that are practicing right now,” Franklin said. “But as you know, I don’t get into those types of specifics.”

A week later, it would seem that Penn State has not ruled out Reid from playing in 2017. The Lions typically announce when a player has suffered a season-ending injury — such as Nyeem Wartman-White’s ACL tears in 2015 and 2016 — but they keep quiet on most anything else.

But what the team can talk about is the corners who will be playing a bigger role in his place.

Later on Wednesday at a post-practice gathering, Franklin told reporters in State College that senior Christian Campbell is up to the challenge of more playing time.

“We’re expecting big things from him,” Franklin said. “He’s one of the fastest guys on our team, and he had to get bigger and stronger, and he’s done that.

“He’s played a lot of football for us, and obviously he’s going to have a little bit more of significant role this year. He’s going to get a few more reps.”

To say the least.

Senior starter Grant Haley said he was confident in the group of corners, which also includes Amani Oruwariye, Zech McPhearson and newcomer Lamont Wade.

Haley said Wade leads the team with three interceptions during spring ball.

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Wideout Juwan Johnson is making his case for a bigger role in Penn State’s offense this fall.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_juwan-practice.jpg.optimal.jpgWideout Juwan Johnson is making his case for a bigger role in Penn State’s offense this fall. Joe Hermitt | AP file photo, PennLive.com
WR Johnson impressing Nittany Lions

By Derek Levarse

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Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse