Penn State’s first Big Ten availability report of the week came down Wednesday night, and it already gives the Saturday matchup with Wisconsin a little more shape.
The Nittany Lions listed nine players out for the game at Beaver Stadium, with another six tagged questionable and safety Omarion Davis probable. Wisconsin’s notable report was shorter, with running back Abu Sama III and receiver Malachi Coleman both questionable.
Among Penn State’s players ruled out are wide receiver Koby Howard, defensive end Max Granville, offensive lineman Will Tompkins, cornerback Tyler Armstead, defensive end LaVar Arrington II, tight end Cooper Alexander, cornerback Joshua Johnson, defensive end Mason Robinson and defensive end Dayshaun Burnett.
Granville is done for the season after an undisclosed injury in practice before Penn State’s game against Temple. Howard remains out indefinitely, though head coach Matt Campbell said the injury is not considered season-ending.
The questionable group for Penn State includes tight end Andrew Rappleyea, center Brock Riker, linebacker Cam Smith, center Dominic Rulli, wide receiver Ethan Black and cornerback Christian Askew.
Rappleyea and Riker, two of Penn State’s top offensive players, left the win over Buffalo last Saturday early in the first half and were held out as a precaution ahead of Wisconsin. Campbell was upbeat Tuesday about Riker’s chances to play against the Badgers, while Rappleyea could come down to a game-time decision. Smith did not play against Buffalo.
Wisconsin’s most notable question mark is Sama, the Badgers’ leading rusher with 23 carries for 156 yards and a touchdown. He sat out against Eastern Michigan last Saturday. Sama played the 2024 and 2025 seasons at Iowa State, where he split carries with current Penn State running back Carson Hansen.
Coleman has four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown this season.
This is the first of four Big Ten-mandated availability reports before Penn State and Wisconsin kick off Saturday at 5 p.m. Another update is due Thursday at 8 p.m., followed by one Friday at 8 p.m. The final report is expected about two hours before kickoff.
In Other News...
Penn State Staffer Faces Serious Off-Field Legal Trouble
A Penn State football staffer is facing serious off-field legal trouble after police in downtown State College found Jordan Lucas asleep in a vehicle under circumstances that quickly turned into a legal issue. Lucas, an assistant cornerbacks coach, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI along with three summary traffic violations after the stop, which also involved a suspended drivers license and expired vehicle registration.
Penn State has already acknowledged the charges and said Lucas remains with the program while the legal matter continues. For a coaching staff that has spent much of the season trying to keep the focus on the field, the situation adds an unwelcome off-field storyline involving a relatively new face in the defensive room. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Line Just Got Thinner At The Worst Time
Penn States offensive line took another hit at a bad time, with coach Matt Campbell announcing that Will Tompkins is done for the season because of injury. Tompkins had been part of the early rotation, logging 31 snaps over the first three games after transferring in from Iowa State, and he gave the Nittany Lions another experienced body in a group that can rarely afford to lose one.
The longer-term picture still offers something for Penn State to work with, since Tompkins is expected to keep four years of eligibility after this season. For now, though, his absence leaves the staff with one less option up front as the season keeps moving and the line depth gets put under more pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Just Lost A Dangerous Weapon Before Wisconsin
Penn States receiving group took a hit in the Week 3 win over Buffalo, and it comes at an awkward time with Big Ten play beginning. Koby Howard suffered an injury in that game and head coach Matt Campbell confirmed he will be out for an extended period, leaving the Nittany Lions without their most productive pass catcher heading into Wisconsin.
Howard has led Penn State in receiving yards through three games, so his absence forces a real adjustment in how the offense attacks the field. The injury is not season-ending, but missing him for the opener changes the shape of the passing game and puts more pressure on the rest of the receiving corps to fill the void. [Read more 🡒]