WR Koby Howard starts off with bang for Penn State
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UNIVERSITY PARK -- Matt Campbell remarked after Penn State's 45-0 blanking of Marshall on Saturday that fans got to see Koby Howard shine on Saturday, but they don't get to see him in action during the week.
"I get to see him when he's the first guy in the facility at 5:15 and he's catching on the JUGS machine," Campbell said. "He's been that way every day since spring ball, every day in the summer, and that hasn't wavered."
The offseason work paid off for at least one game for Howard, hauling in six passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. He was the favorite target for quarterback Rocco Becht in his first game in Happy Valley.
"I just have to keep proving myself," Howard said. "When these big moments (come), they're ready to call my number."
Becht also impressed, going 13 for 18 with 271 yards and four touchdowns for the day. He came into Saturday as one of the most experienced QBs in college football, and Saturday was the first sign of a promising year.
"We planned to spread the ball around, but when (Howard) started to click, we wanted to get the ball to him even more," Becht said. "That guy is going to continue to have great games in the future. He's going to continue being a great leader for us."
The play that Howard scored on turned out to be a broken play that was designed to be a dump-off to running back James Peoples. Peoples slipped on the play, and Becht was forced to buy time and wait for an open man. That turned out to be Howard, and he was able to break free for a 42-yard touchdown pass to give PSU a 10-0 lead.
"The ball was supposed to be out earlier than that," Howard said. "I read it, and (Becht) hit me."
After playing only sparingly last season as a true freshman, Howard felt he had something to prove going into fall camp this season. He made the most of his first opportunity of 2026, which surpassed all of his 2025 production of 133 receiving yards.
"I'm really proud of him because he was ready for the moment," Campbell said. "I think that's college football, though. Your shot is coming. Your moment is going to come. I'm really happy for him, and I think he has a chance to have a special season for us."