Koby Howard’s return after Penn State’s bye week isn’t a foregone conclusion

When it was first announced that sophomore wide receiver Koby Howard would be out for an extended period, he indicated on social media that his potential return would come against Michigan in Week 7. Well, Week 7 has come and gone, and Howard hasn’t yet gotten onto the field in Big Ten play.

Speaking about his star wideout prior to Week 7, head coach Matt Campbell indicated that his return wouldn’t be until after Penn State’s Week 8 bye. Naturally, during his only media availability of the bye week on Tuesday, Campbell was asked about Howard’ progress and the possibility of him playing in Week 9 as Penn State hosts Purdue at 4:15 p.m. ET at Beaver Stadium. 

Campbell told reporters that Howard would be considered questionable for that game at this point. While that’s an improvement and there is still plenty of time before Week 9, it doesn’t appear to be a foregone conclusion that Howard will return against the Boilermakers. 

Matt Campbell needs Koby Howard back to vindicate his Rocco Becht belief

It was fair to hear Campbell’s comments about Howard potentially returning after the bye, paired with Howard’s original social media post about possibly returning against Michigan, and assume that he would certainly be back on the field in Week 9. 

That may still be the case, as questionable is an upgraded status from him being out since Week 3, but this doesn’t seem to be a case where Howard could have played against the Wolverines but was held out as a precaution. 

Against Michigan, redshirt senior wide receiver Chase Sowell had the best game of his season, catching 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Michigan loaded up the box to keep Penn State’s struggling run game from springing to life, and Sowell feasted in one-on-one matchups, even against Michigan’s future NFL cornerbacks. 

If Howard is back, combined with the respect that Purdue will likely need to pay Sowell after his breakout performance in Week 7, the Nittany Lions could potentially start to see a spark on the ground. It’s unlikely, or at least less likely, that Purdue would stack the box and run blitz on early downs, knowing that Sowell can beat man coverage and Howard can take the top off the defense. 

That threat wouldn’t just help the run game, but it would benefit fifth-year QB Rocco Becht, who turned the ball over three times in the second half against Michigan, leading to all 21 of the Wolverines’ points. Campbell said he didn’t and wouldn’t consider making a QB change after the loss. 

At this point, with four losses already on the record, Penn State should consider allowing redshirt freshman Alex Manske to prove himself as Becht’s heir apparent down the stretch. However, aside from his overwhelming loyalty and implicit trust in Becht, Campbell likely wants to see what his longtime QB can do with his full complement of weapons, and if his play improves once Howard returns, he’ll be a bit more vindicated for his decision. 

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