UPDATE: 10:45 a.m.
Penn State has named Ty Howle as its new tight ends coach, replacing Tyler Bowen, who left for a job with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Letterman & 2013 Team Captain @CoachTHowle has been named our Tight Ends Coach.
📰: https://t.co/eIH40gsZ2u#WeAre pic.twitter.com/bc3w1gXiyq
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) February 5, 2021
Additionally, wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield has been named the new offensive recruiting coordinator, a position Bowen also held.
And cornerbacks coach Terry Smith has been named associate head coach.
Howle is a former Penn State offensive lineman from 2009-13, starting for two years. This is from PSU’s release on the hiring:
“We are excited to have Ty represent his alma mater and serve as our tight ends coach,” said Franklin. “I have known Ty since I first started at Penn State when he worked with our recruiting department. Since then, I followed his career and watched him grow into an impressive coach and tremendous leader of young men. As the son of a high school football coach, Ty’s passion for teaching the game is unmatched. In addition, he wears his pride for this University on his chest each day. His contributions as a member of the 2012 team and as a captain in 2013 will long be remembered by Penn State fans. He was a great addition to our staff as an offensive analyst and I look forward to watching him thrive in this new role.”
“I am excited and honored to be the tight ends coach at my alma mater,” said Howle. “I want to thank Coach Franklin for giving me this opportunity to develop the tremendous young men in this program. Penn State University means the world to my family and me. The pride I have for the University, this team, my lettermen brothers and the greatest fans in the world is unrivaled. I’m thankful for everyone who helped me get to this point and I’m excited to be home at Penn State.”
Howle was a two-year starter at Penn State and a four-year letterwinner on the offensive line from 2009-13. He started at center and left guard and was also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. The 2013 team captain closed his career by receiving the Maginnis Memorial Award, given to the most outstanding senior offensive lineman. He appeared in 47 career games for the Nittany Lions, making 13 starts.
Prior to his return to Happy Valley, Howle spent four seasons at Western Illinois. He was hired by then-WIU head coach and former Penn State quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher to coach the offensive line in 2016. After adding recruiting coordinator to his title in 2017, Howle was elevated to assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator in 2018.
UPDATE: 9 a.m.
Tight end Holden Staes, a 4-star recruit from Atlanta, announced this morning that he has decommitted from Penn State.
— Holden Staes (@Hstaes13) February 5, 2021
Penn State recently lost tight ends coach Tyler Bowen to the Jacksonville Jaguars. As you’ll see above, Staes specifically mentioned Bowen in his thank you tweet. Clearly, Bowen’s decision has an impact here.
Staes also has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Wisconsin and many others.
This is a look at PSU’s class of 2022 commits, which is now down to seven players. The Lions had the No. 3 ranked class in the nation before Staes’ decommitment.
UPDATE: 10:30 a.m
Penn State still has one tight end commit remaining in its 2022 class, 4-star Jerry Cross from Milwaukee, but he tweeted this morning that he received an offer from Arizona State.
AGTG. Blessed to receive an offer from Arizona state University! #ForksUp @247Sports @AllenTrieu pic.twitter.com/T6p5yjtJCp
— Jerry Cross (@thejerrycross) February 5, 2021
Both of these moves are no coincidence after the departure of Bowen, an excellent recruiter who no doubt built strong relationships with the two tight end prospects during the recruiting process. Bowen also was PSU’s offensive recruiting coordinator, so losing him from that role leaves a big void.
In a bit of irony, Cross has received an offer from Arizona State, where former Penn State tight end Adam Breneman is the new tight ends coach. Many PSU fans have wondered if the school would bring Breneman back as the Lions’ tight end coach.
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