This is one in a series of stories breaking down each of the players on Penn State Football’s 2026 roster.
Penn State football fans asked a lot of questions last season, and one of them was, “Why isn’t Koby Howard playing more?“
The true freshman wideout impressed on the practice field, but even as the season spiraled into one of the most chaotic in program history, Howard found himself on the bench.
Once the calendar flipped to November, Howard started to play more, getting 94 snaps in the last four regular-season games compared to 38 over the first eight.
Now a sophomore, Howard is poised for a breakout.
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 201 pounds
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Before Penn State: Howard was ranked a four-star recruit by Rivals and a three-star by 247Sports, On3, and ESPN. From Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Howard chose Penn State over Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and others.
Rivals dubbed him the No. 170 recruit in the class of 2025. Howard caught 18 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns before being injured and missing the remainder of the season. He starred in his junior year, catching 65 passes for 1,065 yards and 12 scores.
Howard was injured during his sophomore year as well, but broke on the scene by catching 70 passes for 808 yards. He ran an 11.38 in the 100-meter during his junior season and has quickness off the line.
2025: Howard ended his true freshman season with 133 yards on seven catches, with his first reception coming Oct. 18 at Iowa.
His best statistical game was the most recent one he played, catching two passes for 34 yards in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson.
Where he stands: New Penn State coach Matt Campbell brought in a pair of veterans from Iowa State in Chase Sowell (500 yards, two touchdowns, 32 catches in 2025 and Brett Eskildsen (526 yards, five touchdowns, 30 catches), and it’s likely that those two will start Week 1.
As of right now, Howard is in the driver’s seat for the third starting spot.
A quote by Howard: “It was difficult, I’m not gonna lie. But at the end of the day, now I’m able to do what I need to do, and I just got to capitalize on my opportunity that I have.” — Howard in February via Lions247.
A quote about Howard: “I think Koby could be one of the best receivers in the country. You know what he’s been able to put on film the past three practices, is awesome to see”. — Penn State QB Rocco Becht to reporters in April.
