Advanced Scouting: Penn State wide receiver target Lex Cyrus has speed to burn

Penn State football has several problems at wide receiver with its current lineup. The main problem may be the lack of explosive athletes who stocked the position a few years ago. Yes, the team has several fast football players but it’s struggled to find a steady diet of speed to fill critical positions outside the formation.

Can Susquehanna Township wide receiver Lex Cyrus be that player in the Class of 2025? The Pennsylvania prospect is the fifth-ranked player in Pennsylvania this cycle and displays some impressive traits on film. The 5-10 wideout is also joining Penn State for its first official visits weekend at the end of the month.

Let’s check out his highlight film to see what sort of speed Cyrus brings to the conversation.

Cyrus has game-changing speed

Most of this conversation about Cyrus surrounds how fast he is because it’s a dominant trait. Yes, he’s facing lower-level competition, but Cyrus is staggeringly fast in a way that transcends that distinction. He breaks angles that even fast high school players can’t fathom. He routinely turns regular hitches into explosive plays because he accelerates so well. We also have confirmation of his speed with a 10.45 100-meter dash time this spring .

Running what a 4.35 40-yard dash doesn’t get you a guaranteed spot in any recruiting class, but it’s close. When you fold in his other testing metrics, which are in line with previous Penn State receiver commits, it does.

But speed alone doesn’t make a good wide receiver. Cyrus shows a good run-after-the-catch ability on his highlight tape, where he sheds multiple tackle attempts to get extra yardage. Despite his speed and somewhat slight build, he’s not a purely finesse player. There are enough contested, or at least congested, catches on his film that show good concentration and hands.

What we don’t know

While there’s nothing to suggest Cyrus is a poor route runner, his film isn’t replete with full route tree concepts. Watching complete game footage will give us a better sense of how he was used and what he can do from a route-running perspective. Mostly, he comes off as more of an athlete than a wide receiver, with most of his routes consisting of hitches, go balls, and screens.

However, the biggest question aboout Cryus is his play through contact. There isn’t a defensive back in high school at his level that can stay with him long enough to press him. Speed is great but Penn State needs players who can win through contact in the route stem and still separate.

Also, while his speed transcends competition, the competition doesn’t exactly stand out. Cyrus is 5-10 but towers over many of the defensive backs on his highlight reel.

Fit for Penn State?

Receivers come in all different flavors. Despite some minor concerns about size, Cyrus is certainly a fit for Penn State; they could play both slot and potentially on the outside. And even then, 175 isn’t small for a player who presents the speed problems that he does.

Additionally, there are enough receiver traits, from his work at the catch point to his elusiveness with the football in his hands, that he projects well to the next level. Cyrus is the sort of player that Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki could scheme around to get the ball in his hands creatively.

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