New position coach Kashif Moore takes charge of WR corps

By Sean Fitz

Penn State wide receivers coach Kashif Moore is still the new guy in the Lasch Building, as he was added to the Nittany Lions staff after Noah Pauley left for the NFL in February. The former UConn assistant coach and a South Jersey standout as a player is still settling in with his new program, but he’s getting his message across to a rebuilt receiver room that is hoping to put the last few years of futility behind them. 

“Our identity is around three things,” Moore explained on Tuesday. “It’s being the most selfless, explosive, and toughest wide receiver corps in the country. That’s what we’re trying to build, you know? And that’s something that we’re trying to display every single day in meetings and on the practice field.”

It’s no surprise that Moore’s comments align closely with the guy who hired him, new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell. 

“I think development was the key,” Campbell said on Tuesday when asked why he went with Moore. “A guy that’s developed his own self into a great wide receiver, had a great playing career. And then you saw what he did with those guys at UConn. You watched some of those guys and what those guys were able to do at a place where development had to be the key to your success. You’ve seen that early on, I think that group has grown immensely. And he’s a great developer of the wide receiver position.”

Moore has a positive first impression of Penn State’s receivers

Development will be key for the Nittany Lions at every level of the room. The position features a pair of former Iowa State starters in Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen, two talented redshirt freshmen that came along with Campbell in Zay Robinson and Karon Brookins, Grambling transfer Keith Jones Jr., true freshmen Amarion Jackson and Ben Whitver and a handful of holdovers from Penn State led by Koby Howard, Lyrick Samuel and Peter Gonzalez.

With so many new faces to coach up, Moore started cramming on the film before he got to Happy Valley. Right away, the game clips from Sowell and Eskildsen got his attention. 

“When you look at guys like Chase and Brett, who have a bunch of reps you know on PFF that I can watch, you saw big play ability,” Moore said. “You saw explosive playmaking in the Big 12 that I think will translate to this level. Those guys can play ball. I’m excited to coach those guys up and see them take their game to the next level.” 

What is behind Moore’s belief that Big 12 production will carry over to the Big Ten?

“I would say the mindset. These guys are willing, they want to make plays, they want to continuously get better,” said Moore. “That’s a day-to-day process, we’re trying to find a ways to to get better. Whether it’s watching film, whether it’s extra workout, there are little nuances of the game. Those guys are pretty highly developed already, with Chase being a senior, so it’s just minor tweaks to his game that we can add.”

Evaluating Koby Howard and other young wideouts

Moore also got a chance to check out some Penn State tape from the fall, and Howard was one that got his attention quickly. He’s made plays this spring as he continues to round into a more consistent threat for the Nittany Lions. 

“Koby was a guy that stuck out to me; a playmaker that can play multiple positions,” said Moore. “[He’s] highly competitive, and just wants to be great. And he’s been doing a really good job this spring.

“From Koby, I see explosiveness and the twitch,” he continued. “He knows how to play physical, too. He’s not our biggest receiver, but I think that when you can play big, that allows you to have position flexibility. So where you can play both in the slot and the outside.”

With Sowell and Eskildsen limited this spring, another former Iowa State pair have gotten increased reps in camp for Penn State.

“You have guys like Zay Robinson, who flies around and makes plays. He’s a high football IQ guys as well. All of those guys are very willing, and that’s what’s most important. They want to be great. They want to be coached hard as well,” said Moore. “Karon Brookins, man, he’s a heck of a talent. Another South Jersey guy that I recruited when I was at UConn. Great frame, great playmaking ability. Speed and fluid hips. He wants to get better, I’m really excited about him as well.”

Talk about it in the Lions Den!