STATE COLLEGE − Penn State football looks like it has found its go-to receiver again.
Sophomore Koby Howard kept rolling Saturday, Sept. 19 against Buffalo, putting together his third straight standout game and giving the Nittany Lions a jolt in the first half. He found the end zone twice before halftime, once on a 20-yard reverse and again when quarterback Rocco Becht hit him in stride over the middle for a 70-yard touchdown.
By intermission, Howard had piled up 135 all-purpose yards and helped push Penn State to a commanding 34-6 lead at Beaver Stadium. The Lions outgained the Bulls 305 to 77 in the first half.
Howard’s surge has been building for weeks. He broke out in the opener against Marshall with 161 yards on six catches and a touchdown, then followed that up last week at Temple with a career-long 56-yard reception on the game’s first play.
For a Penn State offense that has been searching for a steady presence at wide receiver, Howard has become a welcome answer. The program had not had a consistent receiving threat since Parker Washington in 2022, and Jahan Dotson was the last true star wideout in 2021.
After that opening-game explosion against Marshall, head coach Matt Campbell pointed to the work Howard had been putting in long before the spotlight arrived.
"You got to see today what I got to see," head coach Matt Campbell said after that opening game success vs. Marshall.
"It's 5:15 in the morning, and the first guy in the facility catching JUGS is Koby Howard. That's been that way since spring ball, almost every day in the summer, and that hasn't wavered as we've gotten into the start of the season.
"Your shot's coming, your moment's going to come. Will you take advantage of it? And Koby's a guy that's worked so hard behind the scenes to take advantage of those moments."
Howard finished the first half against Buffalo with three catches and now has 12 receptions for 344 yards this season.
In Other News...
Penn State Has A New Injury Worry Before Wisconsin
Penn State came out of its Week 3 win over Buffalo with a couple of fresh concerns, even if the immediate outlook sounds relatively manageable. Starting center Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea both went down in the first half, briefly thinning out two spots the Nittany Lions would rather keep stable as the schedule tightens.
Head coach Matt Campbell called both players dinged up and said neither injury appears serious, adding that either one likely could have returned if the game had demanded it. Still, with Wisconsin next on the Big Ten slate, Penn State will be watching closely to make sure both are ready, because the margin for error gets a lot smaller once conference play starts to bite. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Tight End Concern Fans Know Too Well
Penn States passing game took a hit in Week 3 when Andrew Rappleyea left the Buffalo game in the first half with a right shoulder injury and did not return. The tight end room has been a point of emphasis in the offense, and losing a player in that spot can ripple through both the run game and the short passing game, especially early in the season when roles are still settling.
The good news for the Nittany Lions is that there is no shortage of options waiting behind him. Gabe Burkle, Benjamin Brahmer and Finn Furmanek are all available to absorb snaps and keep the position group moving, even as the team waits for more clarity on Rappleyeas status. Penn State could also be monitoring the health of starting center Brock Riker, who left the game earlier and did not return, though it is still unclear whether his exit was injury-related. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Found A New Playmaker Fans Will Be Talking About
Penn States 55-13 win over Buffalo at Beaver Stadium gave the Nittany Lions plenty to like beyond the final score, and one of the biggest takeaways was the emergence of Koby Howard as a new offensive spark. Howard found the end zone in more than one way, breaking loose for a 20-yard rushing touchdown and later turning a pass into a 70-yard receiving score, the kind of all-purpose burst that tends to stick with a fan base.
The supporting cast did its part, too, as Caleb Bacon and Yvan Kemajou helped set the tone defensively with tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Zay Robinson also added value in the return game with meaningful punt return yardage, giving Penn State another layer of field-position help in a game that looked comfortable but still offered a few fresh names worth watching as the season builds. [Read more 🡒]