Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542734
RETURNING STARTERS None OTHER RETURNEES Peter Gonzalez | R-So. A three-star recruit in the class of 2024, Gonzalez has seen his start at Penn State marred by injuries. Over his first two sea- sons in State College, he has yet to see the field but will hope to be healthy enough to compete for time this spring and summer. Koby Howard | So. Keeping Howard at Penn State for the 2026 season was one of coach Matt Campbell's first big wins as the new leader of the Nittany Lions. The former four-star recruit became more involved in the offense once Terry Smith became the interim head coach. He finished his fresh- man season with 7 catches on 9 targets for 133 yards over 198 snaps. Lyrick Samuel | R-Fr. A three-star recruit in the class of 2025, Samuel did not receive any playing time during his first season with the Nittany Lions. NEWCOMERS Karon Brookins | R-Fr. A Pennsauken, N.J., native, Brookins enters his second college season after taking a redshirt during his first year at Iowa State. He was a three-star recruit coming out of Timber Creek High, where he caught 46 passes for 779 yards and 9 touchdowns during his career. Brett Eskildsen | Jr. An honorable mention All-Big 12 pick in 2025, Eskildsen started seven games dur- ing his second collegiate season and fin- ished with 30 receptions for a team-high 526 yards and 5 touchdowns. The former three-star recruit from Frisco, Texas, fin- ished his prep career at Centennial High with 1,590 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns despite missing nearly all of his senior season due to an injury. Keith Jones | R-So. Jones comes to Penn State via the trans- fer portal after spending two seasons at Grambling State. Following a redshirt year in 2024, he led the Tigers last season with 32 receptions for 450 yards and 5 touch- downs. Jones did not receive a recruiting ranking in the class of 2024. He played his prep ball at Edna Karr in New Orleans. Zay Robinson | R-Fr. Robinson caught 1 pass for no yards while playing in three games during a red- shirt year at Iowa State last fall. A three- star recruit from Valley High in West Des Moines, Iowa, he totaled 84 receptions for 1,070 yards and 16 touchdowns during his prep career. Most of those stats were com- piled as a senior when he had 48 catches for 661 yards and 14 touchdowns. Chase Sowell | R-Sr. Sowell is joining his fourth college team for his final season. After starting his ca- reer at Colorado in 2022, he spent the 2023 and '24 seasons at East Carolina before heading to Iowa State last year. Over those four seasons, he logged 115 catches for 1,823 yards and 6 touchdowns. Working with receivers coach Noah Pauley in Ames last fall, Sowell finished with 32 receptions for 500 yards and 2 scores. He was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and also an hon- orable mention all-conference selection. Sowell and Pauley will be teaming up again this fall, the latter having joined Camp- bell's staff at PSU. Ben Whitver | Fr. A former James Madison commit, Whitver flipped to Penn State on Dec. 27 and will sign with the Lions in February. The three-star recruit from Powhatan (Va.) High caught 58 passes for 961 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior. He owns the record in his home state for most ca- reer receiving yards (3,501) and is third all-time with 209 catches. He also caught 35 touchdowns. 3 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6 2026 LOOK AHEAD WIDE RECEIVER Another Rebuild In Store For Pass-Catching Corps 2026 Outlook Penn State is completely overhauling its receivers room for the second consecutive off- season. That was inevitable given that last year's wide receiver corps was built around a trio of one-and-done transfers. Trebor Peña, Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson combined to make 108 catches for 1,341 yards and 9 touchdowns, but now all three are gone, as are outgoing transfers Josiah Brown, Jeff Exinor Jr., Anthony Ivey, Kaden Saunders, Tyseer Denmark and Matt Outten. As was the case with last year's rebuild, the 2026 group of pass catchers will feature several newcomers from the transfer portal. Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen likely have the inside track to be starters, considering that they worked with wide receivers coach Noah Pauley and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser previously at Iowa State. The Lions' top returnee is Koby Howard, who came on strong in the latter stages of his freshman season and is a good bet to start in 2026. With so many new faces on campus, including the position coach, spring practice will play a big role in figuring out who can thrive at this level and also what the depth chart will look like. — Greg Pickel As a true freshman last fall, Koby Howard saw action in nine games and caught 7 passes for 133 yards. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL