Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546159
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 2 9 Jayden Higgins were both selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft after surpassing 1,100 yards apiece the previous season with the Cyclones. Becht also helped Chase Sowell win Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors in what would turn out to be his only season at Iowa State before joining PSU for his redshirt senior campaign this fall. Point being, the Nittany Lions' new starting quarterback knows what a quality Power Four wide receiver looks like, and he believes he has found one in sophomore Koby Howard. A holdover from last year's roster, Howard impressed the previous coach- ing staff but didn't get onto the field with regularity until after Terry Smith took over as interim head coach. Of Howard's 198 offensive snaps, 160 came in the Lions' last five games. He finished the season with 7 catches on 9 targets for 133 yards. There had been some concern that Howard might want to explore his op- tions in the portal, but he chose to re- main at Penn State, and he impressed the new staff, as well as the team's new starting quarterback. The Nittany Li- ons' veteran signal-caller made note of the fact that he routinely sees his new teammate catching passes from the JUGS machine at 5:30 a.m. Howard is also mentoring true freshman pass catcher Amarion Jackson. And he is tak- ing steps forward daily, trying to be- come the player that so many observers have seen in him. "That guy is really special," Becht said. "He did a lot of good things in spring ball, and he's probably going to do a lot of great things in fall camp and the season for us. Something I'm look- ing forward to is just playing with him. He's great. He has a great soul. He's a great person with a great perspective on life, and he's a hard worker. "I think he has a different mindset. He's doing all the little things so that he can be good at the big things when the season comes. I'm super proud of that guy and the work that he's been able to put in this summer, and I'm looking forward to playing with him on the same field come the season." Rojas on Daryus Dixson: 'He's very mature now' When asked by a reporter to identify the teammates who were standing out to him heading into the start of pre- season practice, Rojas responded with a question of his own: What did Donkoh and Becht say? The redshirt junior line- backer was curious to learn whether his pick had caught their eyes, too. That pick was sophomore corner- back Daryus Dixson. And yes, Dixson had wowed the two other Nittany Lions who accompanied Rojas to Chicago. Like his classmate Howard, Dixson chose not to enter the portal despite all the upheaval he endured in his first season at Penn State. With that decision made, and with 11-game starter A.J. Harris leav- ing for Indiana, Dixson has been penciled in as a starter in Penn State's secondary. To hear Rojas tell it, that first-team designation is well deserved. Dixson is coming off a promising freshman sea- son in which he played in all 13 games and started two, finishing with 24 tack- les, 6 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. In addition, his 76.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus was PSU's best among corner- backs with more than 100 snaps. But it's a more intangible quality that impressed his veteran teammate this offseason. "He's very mature now," Rojas said. "He's bringing guys with him to work- outs. Every day after practice, he's still getting his work in, even though we're going five days a week. He's bringing guys with him. The younger guys are seeing that, and he's bringing those freshmen with him, too. "I think he's been a great mentor to those guys. He doesn't talk a lot, but the leadership aspect [has been effec- tive]. The young guys are seeing what he does and following him. He's leading by example. I think he's done a great job." Donkoh on Yvan Kemajou and Max Granville: 'Those are two great defensive ends' Donkoh did not need to think long W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Koby Howard saw action in nine games as a true freshman and finished with 7 catches for 133 yards. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS