UNIVERSITY PARK– Penn State might be without its best receiver and most electric player for its Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.
This isn’t definitive yet.
But coach Matt Campbell revealed at his weekly press conference late Tuesday morning that Koby Howard “got dinged up” on a 70-yard touchdown reception against Buffalo Saturday, and his status is up in the air.
Howard has gone off for 100+ yards in two of Penn State’s first three games, the first time since 2021 that a wideout has had multiple 100-yard games in a season.
He’s fourth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (114.7), leads the Big Ten and is third in the country in yards per catch (28.67).
So, yeah, he’s a guy Penn State wants out there.
But if he can’t be out there, others have to step up, and both Campbell and QB Rocco Becht expressed confidence that they could do that.
WHAT CAMPBELL SAID
“I think that room in general has really got off to a great start. I mean, you know, what Chase Sowell has done, I think, has been, you know, better maybe than I would even expect to where he’s been. I think we talked about it in preseason camp is consistency, and I think he’s given you dynamic playmaking ability.”
Through three games, Sowell has 126 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions.
Campbell continued.
“On the outside, I think Brett Eskildsen got off to a great start. He kind of got dinged up and was really limited. You know, the last two weeks, but I think, you know, you guys have covered us and seen Brett. I think, you know, like, man, every opportunity he’s got, he’s made some dynamic things happen.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Eskildsen caught five passes for 48 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Marshall, but with the limitations Campbell mentioned, he’s caught four passes for 35 yards total the last two weeks.
Campbell then mentioned a guy who, like Howard, is a young, explosive talent.
“Obviously, Zay Robinson’s been a great piece,” he said. And, you know him and Koby have kind of been a one-two punch in the slot at times, and both of them made some really big plays in some critical moments for us.”
One of those plays on Robinson’s end was a 39-yard touchdown catch against Marshall.
Robinson has 80 yards on five receptions, good for a 16-yard-per-catch average that ranks behind only Howard among Penn State’s wideouts.
ROCCO ON THE WIDEOUTS
“I have a ton of confidence in that room. You talk about Zay Robinson, Amarion Jackson, and Brett and Chase. I mean, those are four guys that are trusted, who’ve been able to practice well, and have been able to go out and have good reps in a game.”
Jackson, a true freshman, has been impressing inside the Lasch Building since he arrived on campus. He caught his first pass against Marshall for 10 yards.
“There’s a bunch of trust in that room that I feel comfortable with if they were to go out there,” Becht said.
Penn State is scheduled to take on Wisconsin at 5 p.m. in Beaver Stadium.
The game will be broadcast on Peacock.
