Penn State’s newest wide receiver, Chase Sowell, had other options on the table - and at least one of them came with a bigger payday.
That detail surfaced Sunday night when Sowell’s father, Ronnie, posted on X that his son had turned down offers that would have paid more, including a shot to go to the University of Florida, where Ronnie played baseball and Chase’s mother, Keisha, starred in soccer and helped the Gators win a national championship in 1998.
“Chase Sowell took less money from other schools, and turned down the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA where his dad played and his mom won a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!” Ronnie Sowell tweeted.
“WHY??? MATT CAMPBELL and his STAFF!!!
They are willing to SUPPORT their players when it’s good OR bad!!!! WE ARE!!!
PENN STATE!!! I can’t lie.
I was VERY UPSET at first, but I see God always has a BIGGER plan!!!”
Chase Sowell is now at Penn State with his brother, Hunter, who plays defensive back for the Nittany Lions.
Ronnie’s post didn’t make clear whether the bigger-money offers were tied to Matt Campbell’s Iowa State program or to Penn State. But the connection to Campbell is the thread running through Sowell’s path to Happy Valley.
He played the 2025 season at Iowa State, and Penn State play-by-play announcer Steve Jones pointed to Campbell’s pull when he joined Nittany Sports Now’s Joe Smeltzer and Kyle Golik on the “Joe and the Fatman” podcast Monday, Sept. 14.
“I think the biggest statement about him is the fact that 24 players from Iowa State followed him,” Jones said. “When you sit there and a guy leaves, now you are a free agent.
You’re looking around. You can go anywhere you want, and you know darn well there is so much love for you out there in the transfer portal.
Joe, you’re the greatest quarterback we’ve ever seen. You’re going to make a big Kyle.
Like you didn’t get enough of a chance running the ball there, Kyle, with us. You’re going to get the ball twenty-five, thirty times.
You’re going to be a star, Kyle. This is the portal.
The fact is, twenty-four guys didn’t bother listening to other people. They followed him.
That tells you everything about what they think about him and the program.”
Penn State opens Big Ten play against Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. on Peacock.
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