Koby Howard is a name that Penn State fans could be hearing a lot of this season. The sophomore had an explosive start to the season, going for 161 yards and a touchdown against Marshall on Saturday.
Nittany Lions fans had long been hearing about the talent that Howard possesses, but last weekend was the first real chance they had to see it. The former four-star recruit didn’t disappoint, displaying a skill set with a ton of upside and versatility.
Howard showed excellent route-running skills, sticky hands and the ability to turn on the jets and leave a defense in the dust. Out of everything he showed on field in Week 1, his loyalty might have been the most important factor in his success.
James Franklin was the one in charge when Howard committed
to Penn State, so he could have easily jumped ship when the coach was fired last fall. However, he remained loyal to the team he signed to, and his decision is already paying dividends.
Howard could have went to a program that was more comfortable for him, but there’s no guarantee he would have had the same role. He is clearly one of the focal points of the offense under new head coach Matt Campbell, and he has unlimited potential because of his youth and relative inexperience.
When Campbell was asked about Howard in his post-game press conference, he told reporters, “I think the sky is the limit for Koby Howard, and I’m really proud of him because, you were ready for this moment… Koby’s a guy that’s worked so hard behind the scenes to take advantage of this moment, so I’m really happy for him.”
You’d be hard-pressed to find a single player who didn’t take care of their responsibilities against the Thundering Herd, but Howard stood out just a bit more than the rest. He’s been grinding relentlessly to work himself into this position and it has clearly paid off. The scary part about Howard for other teams is that he’s just getting started. It will serve Penn State well if he can develop into one of the best receivers in the Big Ten.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: All eyes on Koby Howard ahead of Penn State’s Week 2 game vs. Temple
