RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesSTATE COLLEGE − The two fastest guys on this Penn State football team showed out once more here in steamy Holuba Hall.
Wide receiver Brett Eskildsen was making impressive catches and flying up the field. Cornerback Audavion Collins was sticking to receivers, knocking away passes, and returning kickoffs.
They didn't share a signature moment together like last week when Eskildsen sent his offense jumping and hollering when he came down with long sideline pass over Collins. No matter, these two expected Penn State starters shined during this fourth fall camp workout on Monday, Aug. 10 that was open to the media.
It was a day of varied highlights, with some struggles sprinkled in, for this first Matt Campbell-coached Nittany Lion team that's prepping for its season-opener against Marshall on Sept. 5 in Beaver Stadium .
The top two quarterbacks, Rocco Becht and Alex Manske, ran as well as they threw during scrimmage sets. Running back Quinton Martin looked like one of the most versatile players on the team with his running, receiving and kick returning. No one ran harder through bodies than junior Cam Wallace and the Becht-to-tight-end-Ben-Brahmer connection continues to impress.
Struggles included new, expected starting center Brock Riker ground-balling back-to-back shotgun snaps and impressive rookie receiver Amarion Jackson allowing multiple passes to skip off his hands.
But Eskildsen and Collins were the real deals again − two of Penn State's three players (along with linebacker Tony Rojas) to make the annual "Freak's List" by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.
Both Eskildsen and Collins ran more than 23 mph in offseason testing, Campbell said during Media Day last week, and hedged that Eskildsen was the fastest.
The junior Iowa State transfer and former high school sprinting star from Texas smiled and didn't hesitate last week when asked about who holds the so-called title: "That's kind of a hot topic," he said, smiling. "I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but I did have the fastest time in the summer, so I'm gonna have to go with me."
Regardless, he keeps stacking impressive preseason plays, like the long pass he snared down the left side during Monday's red zone work.
"It’s really everything for me, it’s a blessing," he said of his speed.
It allows you to "take the top off (a defense), but it also opens up everything underneath because defenses are so scared to get beat deep. The threat of a one-play touchdown is dangerous, so they have to overplay that (and) you can gash them underneath."
But the fastest at Penn State in 2026, truly?
Eskildsen gave props to fellow receiver and walk-on Ethan Black from Conemaugh Township who, he said, would pull away from everyone in longer sprints.
But the standard testing measure, of course, is 40 yards and Collins, the redshirt senior nicknamed "Squirrel," is reportedly neck-and-neck with Eskildsen. He expects to start again at corner after a productive 2025 with 47 tackles (33 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups.
Maybe he will get to show off his speed on kickoff returns this fall in addition to his defensive back work.
If we could only see a race between the career Penn Stater and the new Nittany Lion ...
Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith believes he knows who would win.
"I don't know (where) on the clock these guys are, but if they race, nobody’s beating AC," Smith said. "He’s the ultimate competitor. He’s as fast as what’s running against him. …. He has that different gear, it’s uniquely different."
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: How the 'fastest' Penn State football players shine for Matt Campbell
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