Penn State’s offense found something in the 31-17 win over Purdue, but the next step may depend on who’s actually available at wide receiver.
Head coach Matt Campbell said Tuesday that Chase Sowell is “probable” for Week 10, while Koby Howard remains “questionable” after missing time with an injury suffered in Week 3 against Buffalo.
“I think we’ll, again, have to see where he’s at,” Campbell said of Howard. “It’s the same rhetoric that I guess I’ve said the last couple of weeks: When he’s ready, we’re going to try to make sure he’s on the field, but we’re going to make sure he’s ready to go.”
That update gives Penn State more optimism on Sowell than Howard. Sowell missed his first game of the season against Purdue, but he appears closer to a return. Howard, meanwhile, is still being handled carefully after last week marked the first time he showed up as questionable on the injury report since going down.
Campbell made it clear the staff does not want to rush Howard back before he’s fully ready. Last week, he said he didn’t want to put “a shell of Koby” on the field.
That cautious approach makes sense given Howard’s value beyond this season. He has three seasons of eligibility left after this year, no matter how many games he plays, because of the NCAA’s age-based eligibility model, commonly referred to as five-in-five.
Howard flashed real playmaking ability before getting hurt, including two 100-yard games in non-conference play. He may not be in college all that long before heading to the NFL, but Penn State will need him next season if it’s going to replace Rocco Becht, who is entering his final year.
Whether the next quarterback is second-year backup Alex Manske or someone brought in through the transfer portal, the Nittany Lions will need a dependable receiver to build around. Howard is the obvious candidate.
Brett Eskildsen can return for 2027, and freshman Amarion Jackson has impressed in limited snaps, including 63 against Purdue, but neither offers Howard’s explosiveness. Adding that kind of talent through the portal would not come cheap, if it’s even possible.
Sowell matters plenty in the short term, too, especially with Penn State heading to Seattle for what looks like its toughest remaining test. Washington has been disappointing by preseason expectations, but Husky Stadium is a difficult place to play, and the Huskies are coming off a Week 9 win over Nebraska in which their defense allowed just 10 points and scored seven.
The matchup is especially tricky because Washington has been strong against the run, ranking No. 22 nationally in defensive rushing success rate. That makes a repeat of Penn State’s Purdue formula hard to imagine, even after the offense leaned into a simpler identity and found a new No. 1 back in Cam Wallace.
If Penn State is going to move the ball, Becht will likely need to do more through the air, and Sowell could be the main outlet. He caught 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown last time out, and if he’s healthy enough to play, he figures to be the top target. Howard, even if he returns, probably won’t be asked to carry much volume in his first game back.
The bigger picture still matters, even with the CFP out of reach. Penn State’s second-half schedule leaves a path to 8-4, and while that wouldn’t come with marquee wins, it would give the program something real to sell to donors and recruits heading into a pivotal offseason.
In Other News...
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Arnold Mugerwa is among the more notable names Penn State is chasing, part of a broader push to flip prospects who are currently pledged elsewhere. The targets have largely come from programs with lower roster spending and rankings, which tells you the staff is still hunting for value while trying to strengthen a wide receiver room that remains a clear priority. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Big Ten Breakthrough Put Recruiting Pressure On Rivals
Penn States 31-17 win over Purdue gave the program more than its first Big Ten victory under Matt Campbell. It also doubled as a showcase day, with several recruits and commits in the stands to watch the Nittany Lions handle business in front of a crowd that included some of the regions better-known prospects.
Among the visitors were 4-star cornerback KeiShjuan Telfair and 247Sports 4-star defensive end Tristan Alexander, one of the top players in Pennsylvanias 2029 class. The game also brought in potential flip targets and other recruits who got a live look at how Penn State performed in a conference setting, the kind of setting that can matter just as much as the final score when rivals are trying to keep pace. [Read more 🡒]