Zay Robinson doesn’t sound like a player trying to blend in.
At Penn State, the redshirt freshman has already carved out a role as one of the team’s most vocal presences, and that comes straight from the same personality that once rubbed Iowa State teammate Chase Sowell the wrong way before Sowell came around on it. Robinson was loud.
He was energetic. He carried himself with a swagger that could read as obnoxious at first, but Sowell came to see it for what it was: confidence.
That bond carried from Iowa State to Penn State, where Sowell said Tuesday, “There's nobody else I'd rather have in my corner, and I'll do anything to give him advice and keep giving him the wisdom that I have,” Sowell said Tuesday.
Robinson says none of that has changed.
“That was just me being myself,” Robinson said Wednesday. “I'm loud, I'm nice, I like to dance.
I just like to be that spark of energy. It wasn't me ‘talking the talk.’
It was me just being confident in myself, and that's what I'll always have.”
For Robinson, that confidence is tied to family. He pointed to his grandmother, his mother and the rest of his “tight family” as the source of the belief he carries with him. He said that mindset shows up in how he prepares, from staying “locked in” to making adjustments based on how his body feels.
That preparation has paid off whenever Penn State has called his number the last two weeks.
Against Marshall, Robinson turned his only target into a 39-yard touchdown. A week later against Temple, he caught three passes on three targets for 34 yards, including one grab through heavy traffic that he believed he and Rocco Becht would complete.
“I gotta just be ready for any moment because it can happen at any time,” Robinson said. “That goes with how my process is throughout the week. Getting my sleep, eating right, just doing everything, all the little things, so I can be ready for those moments when they come.”
Robinson has also made his biggest impact in the return game, where he’s been Penn State’s starting kick and punt returner. He embraced the role quickly, saying he liked the “isolation” of it and pointing back to his time returning kicks at West Des Moines Valley High School.
“I had the opportunity to just go back there one time and try it, and I liked it,” Robinson said. “It helps the team, so I want to do whatever I can do. Get the ball, and just get to make plays.”
Through two games, Robinson is averaging 20.5 yards per kick return and 12.6 yards per punt return. He believes the big one is close, saying he’s only a “man or two away” from breaking one, with the blocking in place and his next step being to slip more tackles.
As for whether he’ll see more work at wide receiver, Robinson isn’t spending energy on that. He says the key is staying consistent, trusting himself and keeping his foot on the gas.
“It's just nice to have an opportunity to be out there with my guys and to be able to help however I can,” Robinson said.
In Other News...
Buffalo Coach Sees One Clear Problem With Facing Penn State
Pete Lembo didnt need much time to make clear what stands out when he looks at Penn States roster ahead of a trip to Beaver Stadium. The Buffalo head coach went through the Nittany Lions with the kind of detail that comes from studying a team closely, pointing to linebacker Tony Rojas, a player he once recruited at South Carolina, and to middle linebacker Kooper Ebel as the sort of defensive leader who helps set the tone for the entire unit.
Lembo also had praise for Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht and for special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, giving Buffalo a broad view of the challenge waiting on Saturday. For a visiting coach, the problem is never just one star or one phase of the game, and Lembos breakdown suggested Penn State brings enough across the board to make every snap and every hidden-yardage situation matter. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Have Every Right To Ask About Quinton Martin
Penn State has put up 72 points through its first two games, and the offense has looked efficient enough through the air to keep things moving. Rocco Becht has completed 75 percent of his passes without an interception, which has helped mask some of the unevenness in the ground game, where Carson Hansen leads the team in rushing yards but the big plays have not yet shown up.
That is why Quinton Martin Jr. stands out as a talking point after he did not carry the ball against Temple, especially after flashing in earlier action. With the run game still searching for a true burst element and no carry going longer than 13 yards, it is fair for Penn State fans to wonder how Martin fits into the rotation and when he might get another chance to change the pace. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Spending Reality Just Raised A Bigger Contender Question
Penn States place in the modern roster economy is becoming clearer, and it comes with an unmistakable catch. The Nittany Lions 2026 football roster budget is estimated at $29 million to $32 million, which puts them 21st nationally and seventh in the Big Ten, behind heavy hitters such as Ohio State and Oregon. In an era when talent acquisition is increasingly tied to spending power, that kind of ranking matters just as much as any depth chart discussion.
The roster churn only sharpens the point, with 62 newcomers this season and 40 of them arriving through the transfer portal. Matt Campbell has worked within those limits by keeping important pieces in place and supplementing them with players he knows from his previous stop, but the broader question hangs over everything Penn State is trying to build. The program can still compete, but the margin for error is getting thinner, and the financial gap is now part of the story. [Read more 🡒]