Penn State football’s 2025 coaching staff caught serious flak for the lack of tread that true freshman Koby Howard received.

As a freshman, Howard caught seven balls for a total of 133 yards in nine games, starting four of them. Before Terry Smith took over as interim head coach, Howard appeared in just two games, logging zero catches. His season-high yardage in a single game was 34 against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.

While there wasn’t necessarily concrete evidence that the coaches were wrong for not giving the Pensacola, Florida, native more reps at the time, other than a series of practice highlights posted by the receiver himself, there certainly is now.

Howard hauled in six of his seven targets for a game-high 161 yards and his first career touchdown in Penn State’s 45-0 shutout victory over Marshall on Saturday. Howard’s seven targets were tied with fellow receiver Brett Eskildsen for the team high, solidifying a sense of reliability that was otherwise nonexistent even a year ago.

“I feel like today was a good test, but it really doesn’t stop here,” said Howard. “I just got to keep proving myself and keep showing the coaches that they can trust me, so when those big moments come, they’re ready to call my number.”

He wasn’t only creating separation from the Thundering Herd’s secondary with his sharp route running, but also generating explosive plays with his physicality after the catch. Howard finished with 76 yards after the catch and averaged a whopping 26.8 yards per reception. Similarly, Eskildsen finished with 45 of his 48 yards coming after the catch.

“The yards after the catch is something that Coach Moore wants us to do,” said Howard. “Making sure we get yards after the catch, not just trying to be a possession receiver, because that doesn’t help us win ballgames.”

While the former four-star recruit out of Chaminade-Maddona High School undoubtedly touts game-changing talent, it’s his work ethic that stands out to those around him, including his head coach.

“You get to see today, but I get to see it’s 5:15 in the morning, and the first guy in the facility catching jugs is Kobe Howard,” said Matt Campbell during postgame media availability. “That’s been that way since spring ball, that’s been that way almost every day in the summer, and that hasn’t wavered as we’ve got into the start of the season.”

According to Howard, the team facility is “pretty much quiet” during those hours except for the strength coaches blasting their hard rock music.

“It gets annoying sometimes, but I just deal with it,” Howard said, smiling.

Howard quickly snapped back into his stoic exuberance, sharing that he cranked up his work ethic this offseason after a disappointing freshman season.

“The biggest difference [from last year]? Work ethic,” said Howard. “I worked hard my freshman year, but I really started working harder for my sophomore year, not wanting the same thing that happened last year to happen this year.”

Even with a limited freshman year and an introverted personality, Howard’s football IQ rubbed off from the jump, according to Eskildsen.

“I was trying to break him in, pick his brain, and just the way he talks about ball and how serious he is, but also how intelligent he is. That’s when I was like, okay, this is a young pup going into his true sophomore year, and he’s talking to me about football like this?” said Eskildsen.

Another new variable in Howard’s success is his deep-rooted connection with starting quarterback Rocco Becht. The pair even trained together in California this summer, planting seeds that sprouted into action this Saturday.

“I think it’s just the connection, the bonds that we’ve been able to create, the relationship outside of the facility is something that we’ve put pride into,” said Becht. “[Now], it’s showing out on the field. Everyone is on the same page, and we’re communicating well.”

Becht acknowledged how special Howard is as a player, referring to him as a “baller” after the Marshall game. Going forward, he wants to keep feeding No. 6.

The targets will surely keep coming for Howard, who says he wants to prove himself as one of the best receivers in the country. Still, he refuses to get big-headed after one game, expressing his itch to watch his game film and correct the “mistakes” he made in his (checks box score) 161-yard performance.