Penn State heads into Saturday’s trip to Washington with most of its roster trending in the right direction, but the receiver room remains the one spot still giving the Lions headaches.
Senior Chase Sowell looks set to return against the Huskies at Husky Stadium on Nov. 7, while sophomore Koby Howard is slated to miss his sixth straight game because of an undisclosed injury, according to the latest Big Ten availability report. Freshman Zay Robinson, who has also handled kickoff and punt return duties for Penn State, was listed as questionable throughout the week and will be a game-time decision.
That leaves Penn State’s receiving options potentially thin. If Robinson can’t go, the Lions could be down to Sowell, junior transfer Brett Eskildsen and true freshman Amarion Jackson. Eskildsen, one of the fastest players on the team, has 23 catches this season but is averaging just 30.5 yards per game.
With the wideout group limited, Penn State may lean more heavily on its tight ends, a unit that finally looks fully healthy. That includes Gabe Burkle, the standout blocker and possession target who has been working back from knee surgery last fall.
There are also other injury-related decisions still hanging over the game. Starting offensive tackle Malachi Goodman and top backup defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim are both game-time decisions.
Even with those concerns, Penn State appears to be in better physical shape overall than it has been for much of the season as it tries to build momentum over the final stretch. The list of players unavailable for the Washington game includes Howard, linebacker Alex Tatsch, defensive end Max Granville, cornerback Tyler Armstead, defensive tackle Alijah Carnell and kickoff specialist Cristiano Rosa.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Need To Hear Franklin On Whats Going Too Far
Recent college football weekends have brought an uncomfortable reminder that the sports passion can cross a line, especially when it spills over from the field to the people around it. Reports of harassment aimed at coaches families have become part of the conversation, and it has put a sharper spotlight on the responsibilities that come with being a fan, even in places where the emotion runs deepest.
For Penn State, the issue lands with extra weight because James Franklin has long had to navigate the intensity that comes with a high-profile job in a demanding environment. The broader backdrop includes everything from coaching changes and player evaluation to the grind of attendance and travel that shapes the college football experience, but the central point is simpler: there is a difference between being invested and going too far, and Franklins view on where that line sits is worth hearing. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Suddenly Face A Scary Jack Ham Situation
Jack Ham was supposed to be part of the familiar soundtrack around Penn State football in Seattle, but instead the longtime radio color commentator and former NFL linebacker dealt with a medical emergency before the Nittany Lions game against Washington. He was transported to the University of Washington Medical Center for treatment, leaving a sudden and unsettling absence around a trip that was already far from home.
For Penn State fans, Ham is more than a voice on the broadcast. He is one of the programs enduring links to its history, and news like this lands hard because it arrives with so little detail attached. No further information about his condition has been released, which leaves the focus squarely on his recovery and on the concern that comes with waiting for an update. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Wasted A Breakout Night In Another Brutal Collapse
Shea Busch gave Penn State a much-needed spark at Pegula Ice Arena, scoring twice for the first goals of his college career in a game that looked like it might finally turn into a breakthrough night. Justin Poirier and Lev Katzin also chipped in offensively, and the Nittany Lions built a lead of two goals twice against Notre Dame, putting themselves in position to bank a result they badly needed.
Instead, the game slipped away in the kind of fashion that has haunted Penn State too often. Notre Dame answered with three straight goals to erase the advantage, then finished the comeback in overtime when Evan Werner scored the winner in a 5-4 loss. For a team that had enough offense to win, the collapse was the painful part, and it left another promising performance hanging without the payoff. [Read more 🡒]