Sophomore wide receiver Koby Howard returns to Penn State in 2026 after catching nine passes during his true freshman season. Penn State Athletics

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s Koby Howard caught nine passes as a true freshman last year for a team-high 19.1 yards per reception.

It was an encouraging start at a position screaming for big-play productivity.

And yet, asked Tuesday what he learned most from 2025, Howard said: “A lot of patience.”

You see, it took a coaching change for Howard to get on the field. All of his catches came after James Franklin was replaced by Terry Smith, who made a few personnel adjustments.

One included dusting off Howard, who should be among this year’s top targets for new coach Matt Campbell.

“I think Koby’s a young talented football player,” Campbell said in preparation for Saturday’s Blue-White practice (1 p.m. start, no TV). “And I think you knew that last year just kind of based on watching practice a little bit in the bowl games and his game reps towards the end of the season, Koby’s got great potential.”

Howard doesn’t deny “last year was rough.”

He wasn’t playing, Franklin was fired, and his position coach, Marques Hagans, was part of the transition.

“I kept my trust in God,” Howard said.

Like practically every college athlete these days, he weighed some options, and the more he got to know Campbell and incoming Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, the more staying put was the right call for him.

“I leaned on my faith and my parents, and we ultimately decided to make the decision to stay,” Howard, a Florida native, said.

Now he’s looking forward to “a new year, new staff, new offense, new players,” and leaving 2025 behind.

“It was a tough decision, but talking to the new coaches and having the chemistry with Rocco helped make the decision,” he said. “Rocco is my guy. He’s going to be a great quarterback, and we’re going to have a lot of fun.”

He’s also built chemistry with new receivers coach Kashif Moore, a former UConn standout and five-year NFL player.

“Coach Moore is a great coach, and he’s done it before,” Howard said. “He has the experience and has played at the biggest level.”

Howard, who has patterned his game off Cincinnati Bengals’ star Jamar Chase – “we’re both about the same size,” he said — made a couple “big plays” in last Saturday’s scrimmage at Beaver Stadium, Campbell said.

“He works really hard at his craft,” Campbell said. “And I think just as any good young player, the consistency is showing up and being able to do all the little things well. We’re grateful to have him back, and we’ve got great expectations for moving forward.”

Iowa State transfer receivers Chase Sowell, who caught 34 passes last year, and Brett Eskildsen, who caught 30, are also being counted on, and Campbell mentioned true freshman Amarion Jackson as someone to watch.

“I don’t know that there’s a true freshman that’s had a bigger spring,” Campbell said. “He’s a dynamic football player, and I think he’s a guy that’s certainly on track right now to push to play as a true freshman.”

There’s plenty of competition, which Howard welcomes.

“I’m ready to attack this year and show the world what I can do,” he said. “I feel this year is going to be different.”

In an age where too many athletes run from challenges, Koby Howard is refreshing.

Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.