We continue our Penn State 2024 standings breakdown series with special teams under the microscope. First-year coordinator Justin Lustig inherits some notable position battles scheduled for the summer and fall.
Special teams, one of the position groups with the most turnover at Penn State, should receive a lot of attention before the season. While one key player returns, transfers and freshmen will play key roles in the Nittany Lions' third phase.
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storyline
Punter Riley Thompson received an eligibility waiver from the NCAA this offseason, giving the Australian transfer from Florida Atlantic two more years at Penn State. Lustig would be more stable with Thompson, but he's a different story when it comes to place kicking.
Alex Felkins, a transfer from Columbia, had a solid performance, making 19 of 24 from the field and making all of his extra points after losing to Sandor Sahaidak in training camp. He used up his collegiate career, giving way to an unproven three-man competition that included redshirt junior Sahai Dak, redshirt freshman Ryan Barker and junior Chase Meyer, who transferred from Tulsa. Realistically, anyone in the group could take on kickoff duties, but punter Gabriel Nwosu was up to the task with 50 touchbacks on 76 kickoffs in 2023.
Coverage teams and returning teams will also be hit hard. Special teams captain and wide receiver Malik Maga entered the transfer portal, and standout punt returner Daquan Hardy was drafted by the Buffalo Bills midseason. Caden Sanders, who returned punts early last season, is still there, but younger names could make an impact. Nicholas Singleton still appears to be firmly entrenched in the kick return role.
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Alphas
Thompson is undoubtedly the alpha of the group as one of the few players with steady employment heading into fall camp. After Penn State had a string of successful punters such as Jordan Stout and Bernie Amor, Thompson struggled to start his debut season. He averaged less than 44 yards per punt in three of his first four games with the Lions, but made a turnaround, averaging more than 44 yards per punt in all but one of his next 10 games.
Nwosu should keep his job after a solid kickoff number, but Penn State will certainly practice other players in spots for safety. Long snapper Tyler Duzanski will step into that role again after serving as a first-year starter last season.
Players you don't know yet
The Kickers, who continue to compete into the fall, will likely garner the most attention in the headlines. Sahaidak earned the starting spot in camp last season, but missed two short field goals in the season opener against West Virginia and was replaced by Felkins.
Meyer will try to replicate what Felkins did as a plug-and-play transfer. Against Tulsa in 2023, he made 17 of 20 field goal attempts and 30 of 31 for extra points, including his longest of the season with 47 yards. Barker was the most unknown of the group, and although he made a field goal against Blue-White, he had yet to see the field.
Freshman running back Quinton Martin is a name to watch in the returning role after scoring two touchdown runs in the spring game. He's a raw player with room to grow with training and conditioning, but his pure athleticism means Penn State will try to get the ball to him in a variety of ways.
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Problems on site
All three kickers had chances against Blue-White. Barker received the first reception and scored the extra point and a 28-yard field goal. Sahaidak made a 30-yard shot for the only field goal of the day, and Meyer made the extra point. Still, it will be difficult for Penn State to decide on a winner heading into the summer.
Felkins' excellence a year ago was key in several semi-close games for the Nittany Lions, including against Indiana and Rutgers. With the uncertainty surrounding the proficiency of Penn State's offense in the fall, any additional uncertainty around place kicks could make for a shaky fourth quarter.
Additionally, the absence of an explosive punt returner like Hardy could impact the battle for field position in Big Ten play. Sanders was good at receiving punts, but he didn't make any big plays. Will he win the job this year and be able to produce more often, or will someone like Martin step up?
Can Penn State win the Big Ten with this position group?
probably. Thompson should only get better after a strong 2023, but having three reasonable options at placekicker means one of them could theoretically work out, right? Penn State also has enough athletes to fill the gunner role in Mayiga's absence. The key to special teams is finding consistency from the field goal unit and the occasional explosive play on the return.
Max Ralph is a senior at Penn State University studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in Sports Studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years for The Daily Collegian, the Associated Press and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and on his Instagram @mralph_59.
