Buzzworthy: Penn State sorting out kicking, punting options
Penn State special teams coordinator Stacy Collins has decisions to make this offseason. The Nittany Lions’ kicking specialists from last season, punter Barney Amor and placekicker Jake Pinegar have both moved on.
In their absences, the Nittany Lions have a pool of candidates all vying to win jobs this preseason at both spots. New transfers to the program, last year’s talented young reserves, and even walk-ons are competing to do so.
And, importantly, that’s propelling both positions forward.
With Penn State football now into its second week of preseason practices, we’ve gauged the pulse of the kicking battles from within the program. Here, we’re evaluating what’s buzzing at kicker and punter with honest insights and feedback:
Punting
Last preseason, the battle for the punting job was more or less over before it had started. That wasn’t necessarily a foregone conclusion in the spring, though.
While Amor had transferred specifically to win the job in the 2022 season, the talent of Alex Bacchetta left open the possibility of the Georgia native quickly usurping the role.
Within a week of the start of preseason practices, though, the buzz within the program was clear that Amor would be named the starter. And, though Amor delighted with his performances in the first half of the season, the decision had just as much to do with Alex Bacchetta’s inconsistency as anything the veteran transfer did to win the job.
Coming out of the 2022 season, then, Penn State didn’t wait to solidify its options moving forward. Bacchetta punted four times while preserving his redshirt, averaging 40 yards per attempt. But, he also had demonstrated through practice an inability to piece it all together consistently, failing to overtake Amor permanently even during some significant November struggles.
That left Penn State to bring in Riley Thompson, an Australian kicker who spent the 2022 season at Florida Atlantic. And, early feedback is that the pick-up has provided the intended result, which is a competitive atmosphere through the summer and into camp.
Publicly, Collins confirmed as much in his assessment of the room last Sunday during media day.
“Alex, he got a chance to do some games reps last year. He’s continued to have had a good offseason and compete for us,” Collins said. “I liked what Riley did throughout the spring to prepare himself well during the offseason. Three practices in, you’re still working through a lot. Gabe has done a nice job. So we’ve seen that he’s got a big leg. And Mitch Groh, too. So there’s a lot of competition.
“But we’re just continuing to focus on the daily part of it. I like the growth and development of all four of those guys are doing. I like the competition that we have. And especially with punting, there are so many different situational punts that you got to work into. We will grow and develop in that and look at it. But I like the work that we’re putting in and I like that we’re competing every day.”
That aligns. But, there are a few caveats to add here worth keeping in mind for Penn State this month.
The first is with Bacchetta, who remains wildly talented but inconsistent overall. His best punts are better than anything anyone else on the roster can produce. But, there are too many average, or flat-out unimpressive punts to be overly swayed by that talent. Creating competition with Thompson ensures Bacchetta is under the type of pressure to bring out his best, more often.
The second is with Thompson, who largely employs a rugby style. The thing about that is it changes how Penn State operates from a punt coverage perspective. They’re prepared for either, but it’s not quite as straightforward as a 1:1 plug-and-play equation based on who wins the job.
The third is with Gabe Nwosu. Not just a novelty story as the 6-foot-6, 274-pound punter, the redshirt sophomore is battling this preseason. He’s big and strong and, importantly, his misses aren’t bad. He’s got a shot.
Kicker
At kicker, Collins offered a similar perspective. And, really, that also aligns.
For Penn State at both of those specialist spots, the balance is between experience that has consistency but lacks explosiveness, and the allure of young, inconsistent talent that can boot it into the stratosphere.
The more consistent is Alex Felkins, the transfer coming from Columbia after four years. The more explosive is Sander Sahaydak, the second-year scholarship kicker for Penn State.
“We’re looking for consistency overall. And I will say that in all our special teams. From a situational standpoint, we continue to put those guys in different situations,” Collins said. “I would say this with both Sander and Felkins right now, they’re striking the ball extremely well. They’ve done a great job in the offseason preparing themselves for this competition throughout camp. And I really like Ryan Barker as a freshman coming in.”
The buzz coming from within Penn State here largely mirrors that of the punting position. Sahaydak’s leg talent is undeniable, but the bottom line is that the football doesn’t sail through the uprights with the frequency that makes you comfortable or confident.
The result is the type of scenario that has already been on display twice this season in two open practices to the media. Two field goal units work at the same time, creating extra rep opportunities and, in the process, a more diverse set of circumstances with which to mess with these guys.
That’s screaming, horns, wet balls. You name it, Penn State is doing it and will continue to do so until it settles on someone who has risen to the challenge.
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