Matt Campbell left Tuesday’s media session at Beaver Stadium with a clear message: Penn State’s offensive picture could look a lot different soon, and the biggest swing factor may be who gets back on the field and how cleanly the pieces fit together.
The most immediate update centered on wide receiver Koby Howard, whose return from injury is still up in the air but trending in the right direction. Campbell said Howard was on the practice field Tuesday after being listed as “questionable” last week, and the staff will keep sorting out his availability as the week goes on.
“We'll know a lot more by the time we get to the end of the week if he will be available to play this week,” Campbell said. “
Campbell made it clear that Howard’s presence matters, but not if he’s rushed back before he’s ready. Still, he called the possibility of getting him back “huge,” while also stressing that the team needs to be sure it’s getting a fully healthy player.
In Howard’s absence, Chase Sowell has taken on a much bigger role, and Campbell said he would have liked more time with both receivers on the field together. Howard’s injury forced Penn State to reshape its identity on offense, and Campbell said the group spent that stretch figuring out what it could still be.
“We were a way more complete football team than maybe we were probably those first two games back without Koby,” Campbell said. “I feel like the last two weeks we’ve found a rhythm. I do think getting Koby back will be a huge asset to our football team.”
There was also good news on Brett Eskildsen, who was shaken up late in the Michigan game. Campbell said Eskildsen is fully healthy heading into Week 9.
The bye week wasn’t just about rest. Campbell said he and his staff spent it digging through seven weeks of film, looking hard at where the team has been sharp and where it has fallen short. That review included quarterback Rocco Becht, who remains a point of confidence for Campbell despite the uneven stretches.
Campbell said many of Becht’s issues are fixable and don’t require a wholesale overhaul.
“It's fundamental, it's coachable,” Campbell said. “It's able to get corrected, and I think that piece of it is exciting because you're able to go to work and you're able to put the time, effort and energy not into scheme, but into the fundamentals and details.”
He also said the bye gave the staff a chance to zero in on the mistakes and the cleaner moments alike, and to keep pushing Becht toward more consistency.
“I feel very convicted about Rocco,” Campbell said. “There is a lot of good football in there.
When he's at his best and when he's playing good football, he's giving us a chance to win the games. I think some of the areas where he has to be better to win the games is evident as well, and I think it gave us a lot of time and effort to go correct those things and have a great plan moving ourselves forward.”
Up front, Campbell said the offensive line is as healthy as it has been all season entering the Purdue game, which could give the offense a much-needed lift down the stretch.
Ryan Clanton’s unit has dealt with a steady stream of injuries over the first seven weeks, but Campbell pointed to Brock Riker’s return to form two weeks ago as a key step in the right direction. He said the group can build from there.
“It always starts with the offensive line,” Campbell said. “I feel like there's probably been at times where we maybe tried to fix it by scheme rather than by fundamental.”
He added that because the line is starting together for the first time, the coaches are still learning which players are best suited for which jobs.
“We were able to catch ourselves and zoom focus a couple weeks ago of really trying to dial into what we can do best and what that group does best,” Campbell said.
In Other News...
Penn States 2027 QB Search Just Got More Interesting
Penn States 2027 quarterback board already looks different after Will Wood flipped his commitment to Boston College, and the ripple effect was immediate. The Nittany Lions responded by extending an offer to another Class of 2027 quarterback, Ben Rolapp, who is also committed to Boston College but has drawn multiple offers while building momentum off a strong 2025 season.
For a Penn State staff still sorting through its options at the most important spot in the class, Rolapps name adds another layer to a search that is still very much ongoing. Losing one commitment can tighten the timeline for the next decision, and with Penn State continuing to pursue quarterbacks for 2027, this is the kind of recruiting twist that can quickly reshape the board. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Receiver Concern Ahead Of Purdue
Penn States passing game could be facing a little more uncertainty than usual heading into Purdue, with leading receiver Chase Sowell appearing on the availability report as questionable for the first time this season. The Nittany Lions also have Koby Howard in that same category, adding another layer of concern to a receiver group that has already been dealing with attrition and lineup shuffling as the week has gone on.
Howard has missed the last four games, and even if he is able to make it back, the expectation is that his role would be limited. There are also several defensive players on both sides dealing with various injury designations, so this game is shaping up as one where depth could matter just as much as the headline names, especially if Penn State has to adjust its plan at receiver on short notice. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces Real Pressure As Offensive Concerns Keep Growing
Penn State heads into its meeting with Purdue carrying more than just the weight of a four-game Big Ten losing streak. The Nittany Lions also need their offense to look more stable, with quarterback Rocco Becht working through turnover issues and a passing game that has not given the team much cushion during this slide. There is at least some hope on the injury front, with wide receiver Koby Howard possibly back after missing four games, which could give the group a needed spark.
Purdue arrives in Happy Valley with its own long losing run against Penn State, having dropped 11 straight in the series, but Barry Odom is already talking about the challenge of preparing for the Beaver Stadium atmosphere. For Penn State, this is the kind of game that can either settle things down or deepen the unease around an offense still searching for rhythm. The matchup offers a chance to reset, but only if the Nittany Lions can clean up the mistakes that have made the recent slide so hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]