Penn State may be close to getting a key young linebacker back just as it heads into Saturday’s matchup with Michigan.
After Alex Tatsch was ruled out for the season, the Big Ten’s Thursday availability report brought better news for the Nittany Lions: Cam Smith is listed as probable. Smith, like Tatsch, is part of Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class. He appeared in the season opener against Marshall, then missed the next five games because of an injury.
That fits with what coach Matt Campbell told reporters earlier this week, when he said Smith was trending toward availability for Michigan. The report now backs that up.
Penn State also has several other players listed as probable, including receiver Chase Sowell, defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim and defensive end Yvan Kemajou.
Sowell has become the team’s leading receiver since Koby Howard went down with an injury a little less than a month ago. Over the last three games, Sowell has gone for 70, 68 and 95 receiving yards. His biggest statistical outing in his short Penn State run came last weekend against USC, when he caught four passes for 95 yards, highlighted by a 47-yard grab.
He did have to leave late in the first half of that game, but he returned.
It’s not clear whether that injury is the reason he’s on the probable list.
Howard, meanwhile, remains out. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said this week that he thinks about Howard “coming back a lot.”
Penn State fans do, too.
If Howard does return, the combination with Sowell could give the Nittany Lions a dangerous one-two punch.
The full Thursday availability report for Penn State-Michigan also confirmed the expected status of Smith, Sowell, Kemajou and Nnodim as probable.
In Other News...
Penn State Could Be Getting A Familiar Name Back For A Key Need
Penn State may be getting a familiar name back at just the right time, with LaVar Arrington II expected to return to the football team after the bye week. The son of College Football Hall of Famer LaVar Arrington spent last season contributing on special teams, and his return adds another layer to a defense looking for help in the right spots.
Coach Matt Campbell said the staff still has to decide whether Arrington II will line up at linebacker or defensive end, a choice that will shape how quickly he can make an impact. After missing time this season because of injury, his comeback gives Penn State another option to consider as it tries to maximize his value on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A New Injury Concern Before Michigan Showdown
Penn State got a little clarity, and a little more uncertainty, when the Big Ten-mandated availability reports came out ahead of Saturdays trip to Ann Arbor. Two starters were upgraded and removed from the report, which is the kind of update every staff wants to see this time of year, but a starting wide receiver was added as questionable, leaving the Nittany Lions with one more situation to monitor before they face Michigan.
Michigans report stayed unchanged, with players still spread across probable, questionable, doubtful and out designations. Penn State will have two more availability reports before kickoff, so the picture could shift again before the Nittany Lions take the field in one of the biggest games on their schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Offense May Be Forced Into A Shakeup At Worst Time
Penn States offense is still searching for a cleaner rhythm after a stretch in which the scoring has dried up at the wrong time. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser pointed to a few of the issues that have piled up, from the teams production in three Big Ten losses to the absence of wide receiver Koby Howard because of injury, all while the unit has continued to fight through red zone inconsistency.
Mouser also left open the possibility of changes up front, and freshman receiver Amarion Jackson could see more opportunities as the staff looks for a spark. The Nittany Lions have turned 14 of 26 trips inside the 20 into touchdowns, a mark that reflects both the promise and the frustration of an offense trying to find answers before the schedule gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]