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Following are the highlights of Penn State's Tuesday press conference with head coach Matt Campbell, defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, linebacker Tony Rojas, defensive lineman Yvan Kemajou, and wide receiver Chase Sowell:
Saturday's game: vs. Purdue (4:15 p.m., BTN)
Records: Penn State (3-4 overall, 0-4 in the Big Ten), Purdue (3-4 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten)
Odds: Penn State is a 7.5-point favorite.
Rankings: Both teams are unranked by the Associated Press.
Series: Penn State leads, 17-3-1
A good practice week
During the bye week, Campbell said the biggest piece he saw was the Nittany Lions' demand to have great practices, and having the desire to fix problems.
"I think that gives me a lot of confidence," Campbell said.
Rojas said it was a good time for younger players to see what they can do, as well.
"We weren't looking at it as a vacation with the bye week and the long weekend we had," Rojas said. "Just keeping (younger players) focused, and making sure we went out of there feeling confident, and coming back this week and having a better week."
There was also a lot of self-scouting for the coaches at just past the midway point of the season.
"It starts with coaches, from the head coach to our coordinators, to equally our players buying into that value system and growing and improving," Campbell said.
Injury updates
Campbell confirmed that Brett Eskildsen is 100 percent ready to go after he was dinged up at the end of the Michigan game.
Koby Howard is questionable for Saturday, but Campbell confirmed he returned to practice.
"Progressing in a really positive way," Campbell said. "I think we’ll know a lot more by the time we get to the end of the week if he can play."
While everyone is ready to see what the offense looks like with both Howard and Sowell on the field, it's important that he's healthy before the coaching staff lets him back on the field.
"I do think getting Koby back will be a huge asset to our football team," Campbell said. "I think that’s why we have to make sure he’s healthy and truly ready to play on the football field, making sure we get the Koby you saw the first three games of the season, not a shell of Koby. I think that part is really important for us."
Rojas honored
Last week, Rojas was named a Midseason Second Team All-American by the Associated Press last week.
If there was anyone deserving of such an honor on the Nittany Lions, it would be Rojas. He has 56 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble for the year.
Rojas said he has a tendency of being hard on himself, and he knows there's things he can improve on.
"I know I can be better at things like getting off blocks against the o-line," Rojas said. "I've been playing well, but I've got a lot more to show."
Transfer portal ideas
It's the point of the season where players will start to think about their next move, and if they will bail for greener pastures elsewhere in the transfer portal.
Sowell has seen just about everything there is to see in the portal. He is now on his fourth university in five years of college football. Now he's in a position where he is out of eligibility after this season and will set his sights on a possible NFL career.
"It's good to be at a stage where that stuff doesn't really affect me," Sowell said.
During the rough patch that PSU is on, Sowell said in a players' meeting that players need to be focused on what's in front of them rather than what could come in the near future.
"You have to make plays. You have to have film," Sowell said. "All these things guys are thinking about ahead, you can't even get to unless you're (being present) now."
The NCAA transfer portal window will open up on Jan. 2, the day after the College Football Playoff quarterfinals are over. It will remain open for two weeks.
"Even if you are transferring or thinking about transferring, we're not in a position for any of our guys to get picked up by anybody," Sowell said. "Your mindset shouldn't even be on the transfer portal. You need to be thinking about making some plays to even get looked at for those opportunities. The opportunities are the same everywhere.
"Focusing on the present is all you can really do."
Notable ...
It was announced Monday that PSU's game at Washington next Saturday will either be a 3:30 or 4:15 kickoff. The television network will be announced on Sunday.
Saturday's game with Purdue is All-U Day. Representatives from every Penn State campus are on hand for a ceremony at halftime.
(Compiled by Andy Stine of the Altoona Mirror. He can be reached at astine@altoonamirror.com.)