The Nittany Lions have six new pieces at the most-maligned position of recent memory. How will they fare in 2026?
New Penn State head football coach Matt Campbell cracks a smile during his introductory press conference at Beaver Stadium. Dec. 8, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comThe Nittany Lions never received elite production at wideout during their championship window.
It was more than apparent during the 2024 run to the national semifinal, as tight end Tyler Warren shouldered virtually the entire load down the stretch . But the causes for that are multifaceted. Franklin’s offensive schemes often fell short in recent years, quarterback Drew Allar never quite reached his five-star ceiling and recruiting and development at the position was not good enough. That’s all out the window now as Matt Campbell, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and receivers coach Noah Pauley try to right the ship in the passing game. Pauley certainly has a track record of identifying and developing talent, producing current-NFL players like Christian Watson, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel while operating at smaller schools. Penn State has added five transfer wide receivers this offseason and one intriguing high school prospect. It also retained talented sophomore Koby Howard after a standout freshman campaign.for the 2026 Penn State team thus far. We’ll continue to roll through each position group as the transfer picture becomes clearer. Iowa State wide receiver Brett Eskildsen catches the ball against the Oklahoma State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stillwater, Okla. APLast year was supposed to be a high-floor group for the Nittany Lions. Transfers Trebor Peña, Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson had each produced at their past stops. But none of them lived up to the hype as Penn State’s passing attack dealt with myriad issues. Things started to click and interim coach Terry Smith and OC Andy Kotelnicki finally “called the plays to throw the ball downfield,” but it was far too little, too late. However, without being too cliché or repetitive, the 2026 group should also have a high floor — at least on paper. Campbell brought with him his two leading receivers from Iowa State via transfer, Brett Eskildsen and Chase Sowell, to continue working with experienced quarterback Rocco Becht. Mouser is also someone who likes to be aggressive in his play calling, so there will be downfield throws, even if some are unsuccessful. A top duo of Eskildsen and Sowell is promising. They combined for 1,026 yards a year ago with seven touchdowns. Eskildsen was the leader with 526 yards. Sowell, though, is an especially intriguing piece, having spent time at Colorado and East Carolina and recording more than 1,200 yards in two years at the latter. At 6-3, he’s a more dynamic athlete than Penn State has seen at receiver in recent seasons. Howard rounds out a strong top three, with the ability to operate at multiple positions and better-than-expected run blocking. He’ll be a key piece if he can build on the 133 yards he put together a year ago. Depth is the biggest concern for 2026, though an excellent tight end room will help quell any worries.We have our eyes on Grambling State transfer Keith Jones Jr., who boasts a 6-4 frame and led his team with 450 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. His acclimation to a higher level will be an X-factor. Penn State wide receiver Koby Howard runs after the catch during the first quarter on Nov. 22, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comPenn State has a bevy of options beyond the four we mentioned above, but all are raw and unproven. The good news is that Eskildsen has another two years and Howard three. Returning redshirt sophomore Peter Gonzalez has talent that he’s yet been able to show due to injury, and returning redshirt freshman Lyrick Samuel has strong ball skills that await some further physical development on a 6-4 frame. Karon Brookins and Zay Robinson are the unknowns from Iowa State. But if Pauley’s process is correct, there’s no reason they can’t be contributors someday. They are each redshirt freshmen with four years remaining. Finally, high school signee Ben Whitver is one of the most intriguing pieces of the entire room. You may not see much of him right away, but the Powhatan product is theMax Ralph is a sports reporter at PennLive, covering Penn State Athletics with a primary focus on Nittany Lion football. He is a 2024 Penn State graduate with a major in broadcast journalism, completing...
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