Penn State is heading into a difficult stretch without one of its biggest playmakers.
Coach Matt Campbell said Tuesday that receiver Koby Howard will be “out for an extended period of time” after getting “dinged up” in Saturday’s win over Buffalo. Campbell added that the injury is not season ending, but it still leaves a major hole in the Nittany Lions’ passing game.
Howard has been one of the biggest reasons Penn State’s offense has flashed early. He topped 100 receiving yards in two of the team’s first three games, marking the first time since 2021 that a wideout has posted multiple 100-yard games in a season. He also sits fourth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game at 114.7 and leads the conference - while ranking third nationally - in yards per catch at 28.67.
That kind of production is not easy to replace, but Campbell and quarterback Rocco Becht both pointed to a receiver room that has already shown it can make plays.
“I have a ton of confidence in that room. You talk about Zay Robinson, Amarion Jackson, and Brett (Eskildsen) and Chase (Sowell),” Becht said. “I mean, those are four guys that are trusted, who’ve been able to practice well, and have been able to go out and have good reps in a game.”
Campbell was especially upbeat about Sowell’s start.
“I think that room in general has really got off to a great start,” Campbell said. “I mean, you know, what Chase Sowell has done, I think, has been, you know, better maybe than I would even expect to where he’s been. I think we talked about it in preseason camp is consistency, and I think he’s given you dynamic playmaking ability.”
Through three games, Sowell has 126 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
Campbell also singled out Eskildsen, who opened the year with five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against Marshall before being slowed by injury.
“On the outside, I think Brett Eskildsen got off to a great start. He kind of got dinged up and was really limited.
You know, the last two weeks, but I think, you know, you guys have covered us and seen Brett. I think, you know, like, man, every opportunity he’s got, he’s made some dynamic things happen.”
Campbell then turned to Robinson, another young receiver who has already made his mark.
“Obviously, Zay Robinson’s been a great piece,” he said. And, you know him and Koby have kind of been a one-two punch in the slot at times, and both of them made some really big plays in some critical moments for us.”
Robinson’s biggest highlight so far came on a 39-yard touchdown catch against Marshall. He has 80 yards on five receptions, which gives him a 16-yard-per-catch average that trails only Howard among Penn State receivers.
Penn State now has Wisconsin, a trip to Northwestern and USC at Beaver Stadium on deck. Losing Howard makes that run look a lot tougher.
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