Punt return for touchdown ends skid

Thompkins said. “So coming into this game, I knew I had a good chance, and I trusted my guys a lot. So I had that chip on my shoulder that I knew I had to break it, and I just wanted to break it this game.”

Thompkins was a splashy name last week on the depth chart. He was listed as the No. 1 punt returner, taking that role over from injured cornerback John Reid, and also was a surprise as a No. 1 wide receiver over senior Saeed Blacknall.

Coach James Franklin expressed confidence in Thompkins’ ability last week, and Thompkins held up his end with an impressive game in Penn State’s season opener. In addition to his 61-yard punt return touchdown, he had 42-yard punt return and caught two passes for 29 yards.

“I thought he looked really confident today, and that was a combination of a lot of things,” Franklin said. “I think he’s a much more experienced player at this point in his career. I think [assistant coach] Terry Smith’s done a great job with those guys as well. And then, the feedback that I’ve gotten is to stay away from them. Stay away from the punt returner. You question them, you’re screaming, you’re yelling — leave them alone. Let them play and they’ve earned that.”

Franklin has long preached the importance of good special teams play, but it hasn't always translated onto the field. A year ago, Penn State was 94th in Football Bowl Subdivision with an average of 6.47 yards per return. If Thompkins continues his strong running, the program might have the skilled punt returner it has lacked for years.

“We want to be aggressive,” Franklin said. “We want to make great decisions, but then be aggressive in all three phases and I thought DeAndre showed that [Saturday]. Obviously for us, it’s been an area that’s probably been magnified that we haven’t been as explosive or as productive as we’d like to be. So to see it [Saturday], it probably is magnified in all of our minds just because we haven’t seen that in a number of years here.”