Penn State may be getting Koby Howard back just in time for Saturday’s matchup with Purdue, but the Nittany Lions aren’t planning to rush him.
Matt Campbell said Howard worked on the practice field Tuesday and Wednesday, though his status remains “questionable” heading into the game. Penn State clearly wants its top receiver from the nonconference stretch available, but Campbell made it plain that Howard’s return won’t come at the expense of his long-term health.
“We'll see what tomorrow really looks like, and feel confident that if he is capable of playing, what's that look like?” Campbell said.
“How many reps does that look like? If he's not ready, I'm not putting him on that football field until he's 100% ready to go.”
That cautious approach makes sense given how unsettled Penn State’s receiver group has been. Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen were already managing lingering injuries early in the season before Howard went down for an extended stretch, leaving the room short of full strength almost from the start.
And when Howard was on the field, he was the engine of the offense. Through the first three weeks, he topped 100 receiving yards twice and opened the season with a 161-yard performance against Marshall in Week 1. Since then, Sowell has picked up the slack and now leads the team with 510 receiving yards.
Campbell sees the potential payoff once Howard is fully back in the mix.
“The unfortunate piece is you haven't had those guys on the field at the same time, probably playing in that same rhythm,” Campbell said Tuesday. “Getting Koby back will be a huge asset to our football team. That's why we got to make sure he's healthy and truly ready to play on the football field and make sure that we get the Koby that you saw the first three games of the season, not a shell of Koby.”
Sowell is looking forward to that, too. He said Howard brings “swag” to the offense through his accessories and his confidence, but also delivers when it matters. Sowell described that edge as an “F-U mentality to the defense.”
“It’s kind of like, ‘I want the ball, I want to make the play,’” Sowell said. “And that you need that from some guys. We can't wait for him back on the field for sure.”
Zay Robinson said Howard’s return would give Penn State even more flexibility at the line of scrimmage. With Howard back, the Nittany Lions would have multiple receivers who can work different routes and line up in different places.
Robinson pointed to both Howard and Sowell as players who can operate from the slot or beat defenders out wide in one-on-one situations, and he said Penn State fans will be “in for a treat” once the room is whole again.
“(Howard and Sowell) can take it no matter where they're at on the field,” Robinson said. “They both complement each other greatly in that way, and they both are physical, want to play ball and just are really great football players.”
Robinson also said Howard has looked “great” physically in practice this week and has carried the same mindset he always has.
“He's attacking every day, exactly how he needs to be,” Robinson said. “And we’re just happy to have him back whenever he's ready.”
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