Penn State hasn’t been known for its elite wide receiver recently, but with a talented group under the new leadership of Kashif Moore, the Nittany Lions are looking to flip that narrative entering the 2026 season.

Moore is not blind to the fact that the Penn State faithful have demanded more out of its receiver room as of late.

Just by checking the stat sheets, it’s not difficult to see the position group’s lack of production and impact on games. In Penn State’s Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff two years ago, the blue and white wideouts accounted for zero receptions.

Last season, Trebor Peña, Devonte Ross, and Kyron Hudson all accounted for roughly half the total yards as in their prior seasons with Syracuse, Troy, and USC, respectively.

But James Franklin’s departure ended the Marques Hagans’ era in Happy Valley, who served as the team’s receiver coach from 2023 to 2025, and perhaps a change of pace was exactly what this program needed.

Moore isn’t guaranteeing an overnight transformation. But he does believe he has the proper mix of talent and experience at his disposal to make a real impact in Taylor Mouser’s offense.

“It’s still very early. But one thing I can say is that, man, we’ve got a great group that’s willing to put in the work,” Moore said. “These guys want to be great, and we’re taking the necessary steps in order to do so in terms of changing the culture of the room. We’re excited for that challenge.”

Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen are the two members of that group who hope to define that culture. Both Iowa State transfers, the veteran wideouts posses not only leadership abilities, but a natural skill for the position.

Sowell led the Cyclone wide receivers in catches last season, tallying 32 receptions and 500 yards. The 6’3″, 203-pounder has a uniquely big build for a wideout.

Both Moore and Sowell want to take advantage of that fact to create a physical presence on the field, emphasizing touchdown blocks as a focus for the group away from the football.

“His route running and physicality is what really separates him on his shorter routes, and being able to create so much separation in such little time makes Chase a very elite receiver,” Eskildsen said of his teammate.

Being a well-rounded player is key to success. For Sowell, fall camp will be a great opportunity to complete his profile on the mental front.

Improving football IQ, coverage recognition, and avoiding lingering mishaps will be a focal point for the redshirt senior.

Just as Sowell has size, Eskildsen has speed. He’ll look to quell some critics of the Penn State offense with his explosiveness.

The Nittany Lions have lacked a true deep ball threat for years. While Ross showed flashes of it last season, Jahan Dotson was the last real difference-maker when it came to the long ball.

Eskildsen tops out in a sprint at roughly 23.5 miles per hour, according to head coach Matt Campbell. For reference, Tyreek Hill’s top speed in an NFL game was recorded at 23.24 miles per hour.

While it’s extremely unlikely that Eskildsen will match his max speed during game action, there’s no denying just how big of a role he can play in creating separation with his quickness.

“I think one of the biggest threats that you can have as a wide receiver is speed,” Moore said.

Aside from the dynamic duo of Sowell and Eskildsen, Penn State has a plethora of young wideouts that are poised to step up in big ways for the team.

Koby Howard is a name that fans of the blue and white heard a lot about in the latter half of last season. After not seeing the field as much as he potentially deserved under Franklin, Howard quietly made his presence known later in the season, averaging 19 yards per reception on limited targets.

Like Eskildsen, Howard has constantly received praise for his speed, particularly in the slot, but perhaps most notably for his work ethic.

Operating with a huge chip on his shoulder, Howard arrives at the football facility each day before 6 a.m. to catch balls on the jugs with fellow young wideout Amarion Jackson. His coachability, accountability, and urge to be a playmaker have helped position him to finally become a fixture of the offense.

Moore compares the 5’11”, 203-pound sophomore to Deebo Samuel, a versatile athlete in his own right. Howard could play both in the slot and on the outside, earning him the nickname “Keebo” from his coach.

Zay Robinson is another young player who has impressed the coaching staff.

“What everybody was talking about Koby [Howard] a year ago here, Zay had the same conversation going on at Iowa State,” Matt Campbell said.

The two athletes have similar body types, and Robinson’s trait as a dynamic receiver closely mirrors that of his teammate. While both continue to show potential, establishing consistency will be crucial, especially for the redshirt freshman Robinson.

“With young guys, we aim for consistency. We don’t want to see flashes—a big play. We need to turn that flash into a light bulb, a light that never gets shut off,” Moore said.

Between Howard, Robinson, and Jackson, Penn State fans finally have something to be excited about from their young wide receivers. Not to mention Keith Jones Jr., another player who could work his way into playing time this fall. With Sowell and Eskildsen there to provide a veteran presence, this group has unique potential to mesh in ways this program hasn’t been accustomed to.

Saturated with speed, playmaking talent, and size, the wide receiver room in Happy Valley could finally be a point of pride once again.

“We want to be the most selfless, explosive, toughest wide receiver core in the country,” Moore said. “It’s up to us to set those standards, and to continuously raise the bar.”