Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
7 8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 4 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / BY THE NUMBERS 6 Tackles last season by long snapper Tyler Duzansky. It was the most by any long snap- per in the FBS. 10 Consecutive makes by kicker Chase Meyer to open the 2023 season at Tulsa. Meyer didn't miss a field goal attempt until the Golden Hurricane's ninth game of the season, against Charlotte. 45.8 Riley Thompson's average yards per punt in 2023. Thompson ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 12th in the FBS. PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern STARTERS ★★★ The Lions are solid at the punting spot. Junior Riley Thompson came on strong at the end of last season and was especially effective in the Peach Bowl, averaging 49.4 yards on 5 punts. New special teams coordinator Justin Lustig has a good track record with punters, having developed Vanderbilt's Matthew Hayball into an All-Ameri- can. Thompson should be headed for a big year. The Lions also have experienced players avail- able to return punts (redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kaden Saunders) and kickoffs (junior running back Nicholas Singleton). Whether they'll reprise those roles is still to be determined. Saun- ders started out as PSU's primary punt returner last year and averaged 6.1 yards before giving way to the more dynamic Daequan Hardy. It's likely the Lions will want to audition some other candidates for this job, and perhaps for kickoff returns, too. Elsewhere, kickoff specialist Gabriel Nwosu is back for his redshirt junior season, as is long snapper Tyler Duzansky. That leaves the placekicking spot, which ap- pears to be wide open heading into preseason camp. Junior Chase Meyer, redshirt freshman Ryan Barker and redshirt junior Sander Sahaydak are all in the mix. EXPERIENCE ★★★ Every position except placekicker features a re- turning starter, so there's ample experience here. If the Lions go with newcomers in the return game, it'll be by choice, not because they lack veteran performers. DEPTH ★★★ The Lions have stocked up on potential return specialists, and their kickers are versatile. Nwosu is listed as a punter even though his biggest con- tribution to date has been as a kickoff specialist. Sahaydak and Meyer both have experience kick- ing off at the college level, and Barker handled field goals, kickoffs and punts in high school. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ A year ago, Penn State didn't find out until the season opener who its most reliable kicker was. That's the nature of the position; the pressure of a high-stakes field goal attempt is one facet of the game that can't be simulated in practice. Meyer did kick a 37-yard field goal in the final seconds to lift Tulsa over East Carolina last November, so he's done it before, just not at Penn State. Everywhere else, the Lions are a known quan- tity. The punting game looks particularly strong, with Thompson coming off an honorable mention All-Big Ten performance in 2023. Players (12) No. Player Yr. Ht. Wt. PLACEKICKER 94 Ryan Barker R-Fr. 6-2 195 91 Chase Meyer Jr. 5-10 183 93 Sander Sahaydak R-Jr. 6-0 188 PUNTER 96 Mitchell Groh R-Jr. 6-1 191 99 Gabriel Nwosu R-Jr. 6-6 280 95 Riley Thompson Jr. 6-1 221 LONG SNAPPER 48 Tyler Duzansky R-Jr. 6-4 217 47 Will Patton R-So. 6-4 245 35 Blaise Sokach-Minnick R-So. 6-3 219 KICKOFF RETURNER 13 Kaytron Allen Jr. 5-11 225 10 Nicholas Singleton Jr. 6-0 227 PUNT RETURNER 7 Kaden Saunders R-So. 5-10 176 Quick Facts Coordinator: Justin Lustig (first season) Returning starters: KR Nicholas Singleton, LS Tyler Duzansky, P Riley Thompson, K (KO) Gabriel Nwosu Departing starters: K (FG) Alex Felkins, PR Daequan Hardy Projected new starters: K Ryan Barker or Chase Meyer or Sander Sahaydak, PR Kaden Saunders Top reserves: LS Blaise Sokach-Minnick, P Mitchell Groh Newcomer: K Chase Meyer Redshirt freshman Ryan Barker is competing with Tulsa transfer Chase Meyer and redshirt junior Sander Sahaydak for the starting placekicker position. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL