In transfer portal news, Penn State football is reportedly getting a visit from a receiver.
Matt Zenitz of 247Sports wrote early Sunday afternoon that Justin Bowick, a 6-foot-4, 199-pounder who is in the portal from Ball State, plans to visit Penn State this coming week.
Ex-Ball State receiver Justin Bowick is set to visit Penn State Wednesday and Thursday this week, his agency @bzsportsmgmt tells @chris_hummer and me.
Bowick, who had 383 yards and three TDs in four games this year, had been set to visit Cincinnati those days but will nowโฆ pic.twitter.com/Y9TYAySNgP
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 15, 2024
Bowick played one season at Ball State and two previously at Eastern Illinois.ย
In his lone season at Ball State, Bowick had 383 yards and three touchdowns on 20 receptions. The previous season at Eastern Illinois, Bowick had 459 yards and five touchdowns on 30 receptions. 2025 will be his last remaining season of eligibility, and Penn State certainly needs help at receiver.
IN NEED OF AN UPGRADEโฆ OR MULTIPLE
Photo by Penn State Athletics: Jahan Dotson
Here are what Penn Stateโs top receivers have done since Jahan Dotsonโ who eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2021โ played his last college game:
- 2022: Parker Washington (46 catches, 611 yards, two TD)
- 2023: KeAndre Lambert-Smith (53 catches, 673 yards, four TD)
- 2024 (so far): Harrison Wallace III (39 catches, 638 yards, four TD).
Penn Stateโs top pass-catcher this season is Tyler Warren (88 catches, 1,062 yards, six TD). But because Warren plays tight end, heโs not part of this conversation.
PSUโs receivers have made some strides this season. Three WRs have had games of 100+ yards, whereas last season, only Lambert-Smithโ who now plays for Auburnโ accomplished that feat. But considering Penn Stateโs second-leading receiver, Omari Evans has 360 yards and roughly a third of those came against a Kent State team that went 0-12, itโs probably fair to say thereโs work to be done.
NOT A CENTERPIECE
If Penn State does indeed land Bowick, it would probably be a stretch to say that heโd be the type of receiver that could transform a room. PSU and its fans would take any receiver because of how recent history has been but Bowick wouldnโt move the needle to the extent that Eric Rivers would.
Rivers picked up 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns on 62 receptions for Florida International this past season, is visiting Happy Valley Dec. 19-20. He would certainly help.
Penn State is scheduled to take on SMU for its first-ever College Football Playoff game Saturday, Dec. 21 at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on TNT and HBO Max.
