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Reading Eagle, Pa.
Penn State wide receivers are in “prove-it mode” after massive turnover
- Story byReading Eagle, Pa.
- Penn State wide receivers are in “prove-it mode” after massive turnover
Penn State has lacked consistent production at wide receiver for the last five seasons.
So it's no surprise that preseason magazines rank the Nittany Lions in the middle of the pack or worse in the Big Ten, even with a massive turnover at that position.
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Forgive the new receivers if they feel slighted.
"I like being the underdog because that means you didn't see me coming," senior Chase Sowell said. "A lot of underdogs overcome a lot of stuff. Indiana did last year. You better look out for us."
Sowell and fellow Iowa State transfer Brett Eskildsen combined for 62 receptions, 1,026 yards and seven touchdowns last season with the Cyclones. They're likely to be the starters in an offense that will often use two tight ends.
Behind them are Koby Howard , Zay Robinson and Amarion Jackson, all younger guys with talent who need more experience and consistency.
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"We're excited about what the room has the ability to do," Penn State coach Matt Campbell said. "They're all in a little bit of a prove-it mode. Can you prove it every day and be great?"
The 6-3, 203-pound Sowell has a ton of experience after stops at Colorado, East Carolina and Iowa State. He has 115 career catches for 1,823 yards and six TDs. Last season with the Cyclones, he made four catches for a season-high 146 yards against Arizona.
He comes from an athletic family. His father played baseball at Florida , and his mother played soccer for the Gators . His brother, Hunter, is a redshirt freshman cornerback at Penn State.
"Chase's last step from being good to being elite is consistency," Campbell said, "the ability to be the best game in, game out, moment in, moment out. That's what you would hope for a fourth-year player. You have the opportunity to finally put those final pieces of the puzzle together."
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Eskildsen played alongside Sowell for the first time last season and came away extremely impressed.
"Chase's size and his ball-tracking ability are big things for him," Eskildsen said. "His route running and physicality are what really separates him on his shorter routes. He's able to create so much separation in such little time. That all makes Chase a very elite receiver."
The 6-1, 198-pound Eskildsen, one of the fastest players on the roster, ranked second in the Big 12 last season with 17.53 yards per catch. He had a career day against Cincinnati last season with eight receptions for 105 yards.
A junior, he's a deep threat who can take the top off a defense, something Penn State wasn't able to do consistently the last several years.
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"You saw Brett take the next step last year," Campbell said. "Ha made some huge plays down the field. He has strong hands and has the ability to accelerate down the field. He can do a lot of different things and can be a great special teams player as well."
Eskildsen caught 30 passes for 526 yards and five TDs last season; Sowell had 32 catches for 500 yards and two scores.
"Brett's a team guy," Sowell said. "You can look at his freshman year (2024). He's running down the field as a gunner (covering kicks) and catching a few passes for first downs. No matter what it is, he's going to do it to the best of his ability."
Then there are the three guys behind Eskildsen and Sowell.
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Howard received a lot of buzz last season as a Penn State freshman and made seven catches for 133 yards in the final seven games. Robinson played in three games as a freshman last year at Iowa State without a reception. Jackson, a true freshman, was recruited as a defensive back before Campbell and his staff moved him to offense, where he seems to have found a home.
"Those three guys are hungry," wide receivers coach Kashif Moore said. "They're willing to learn. They're willing to be coached. They want to be great. They want reps. They have all the ingredients it takes to help us early on and be great."
Campbell has developed such NFL wide receivers as Hakeem Butler , Allen Lazard , Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel .
Penn State needs the receivers to be productive this year so that defenses can't crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the run. One magazine ranks them 12th in the Big Ten and another one has them in a five-way tie for eighth.
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"It's OK," Eskildsen said with a smile. "We put a lot of work in, so we know what we're about. What other people say and what the outside noise is, that's not going to affect us."
