Wide receivers coach Marques Hagans was watching a spring practice at Chaminade-Madonna High School in Florida when one player caught his eyes.
It was wide receiver Koby Howard, who scored a game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard fade route. Flashes like that garnered Howard attention through the recruiting process, and he’s continued to make similar impressions so far through his first fall camp at the collegiate level.
“I’m like, ‘Sh—, that’s it right there. He’s gonna be something,’” Hagans said on Aug. 12 while recalling Howard’s score. “I think it’s starting to show that dude loves football. You can coach him hard, you can push him, and he’s competitive, but he’s also a really good teammate.”
Howard endured season-ending injuries in both his sophomore and senior seasons in high school but still earned a 247Sports composite 4-star rating. He finished his junior year with 65 catches for 1,065 yards and eight touchdowns.
During the high school practice Hagans was at, Howard’s skills were on display even before his touchdown.
“The coach called 10 passes in a row, told the whole defense the ball was going to (Howard), and he just kept getting open over and over,” Hagans said. “He’s going db after db after db, and he keeps winning.”
Howard having successful reps has shown up in Penn State’s fall camp as well. He caught a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone during a 3-on-3 drill at Tuesday’s practice.
It’s that type of consistency that’s been the center of most praise for Howard. Teammates have mentioned Howard’s strong work ethic and ability to create highlights.
“He works so hard,” wide receiver Kyron Hudson said Aug. 12. “He’s a kid, a freshman, late night, he’s out here working by himself. I think as a freshman, you don’t see that a lot, and he truly pushes himself, and he’s super comfortable. He loves his game. He goes out there and just makes the plays, and I think that’s what makes him be him.”
Wide receiver Koby Howard (3) catches a pass while assistant wide receivers coach Mark Dupuis watches at Penn State football practice in Holuba Hall on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
Lyle Alenstein
The defense also had similar feedback for Howard as A.J. Harris matched Hudson’s sentiment.
“(He’s) consistent. He’s the same person every day,” Harris said Tuesday. “He gets open every day. He’s just a hard worker.”
Transfer additions Trebor Peña, Devonte Ross and Hudson are the three expected wide receiver starters for the Nittany Lions, but there would still be some spots in the rotation available behind them, which Howard could fill.
It remains to be seen how much Howard plays in the rotation, if at all, though there’s some anticipation he’ll be a contributor in 2025. Quarterback Drew Allar mentioned he expects Howard to play “at some point” this season, and Harris believes Howard will “have a good year.”
Those expectations are seemingly believed by the team as a whole. At every open practice this month, Howard has worked with the ones and twos, possibly signifying he’ll be a key piece in the rotation.
It appears Howard earned the right to be with top players at the position, showing up when it’s needed most according to Hagans.
“Some of the biggest moments in camp so far, he’s risen to the occasion and made plays,” Hagans said. “Now, he’s got to carry that throughout the season.”
Howard’s only a few months into his collegiate career and has yet to see action in a real game, but the buzz is there.
“I don’t want to speak too fast before he has made one play in college football that counts, but I’m excited for him,” Hagans said.
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