Special Teams is an often overlooked, but vital part of a football team. As the third phase of football (with offense and defense), this group can produce points and help control field position. This is important to keep in mind for the Penn State 2024 special teams preview.
Quarterback Drew Allar enters his second full season as a full-time starter and his first season with new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. On the defensive side, new coordinator Tom Allen is on board, with new starters at key spots at linebacker and cornerback. As a result, any edge that special teams can provide could mean the difference between key wins and losses.
For Penn State in 2024, special teams will be as important as ever. Adding some intrigue and uncertainty, head coach James Franklin onboarded a new special teams coordinator this year. The hiring of Justin Lustig completes the clean sweep and transition of new coordinators on Franklin’s staff in 2024.
Penn State 2024 Special Teams Position Preview: Stability is Key
For Penn State’s 2024 special teams position preview, stability is the key to enabling success through the season. The group will be a mix of continuity and new critical components. Penn State’s special teams have traditionally had a lot of changes and less stability, so the return of some key pieces will be welcome. With a battle ongoing at kicker, there is interest in this unit. Additionally, there will be a new punt returner. However, stability is expected at punter, kickoff specialist, and kick returner.
Beyond the focus positions on special teams, the remainder of the unit is also very important. Special teams will be a good proving ground for the next generation of talent at other positions.
Penn State’s Past Special Teams Standouts
Penn State has had some great players don the blue and white, but special teams have also produced some of the most iconic moments of the program’s history. For example, rewind to October 2016 when the unranked Nittany Lions took on second-ranked Ohio State. Trailing 21-17 in the fourth quarter, Penn State blocked an Ohio State field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown, going on to win 24-21.
Some of the most notable Penn State alumni, from a special teams standpoint, include Matt Bahr and Sam Ficken (a comeback story of resiliency) at kicker. Additionally, Blake Gillikin and Jordan Stout made names for themselves as punters. At the kick returner position, running backs have traditionally done well doing double duty returning kicks. This is a theme that will repeat in 2024. Looking back, Curt Warner and Saquon Barkley have enhanced their legacy by returning kicks. There is a similar relationship between the wide receiver and punt returner positions, with alumni O.J. McDuffie and Jahan Dotson doing the honors.
Performance of Special Teams in 2023
After a rough start for Penn State’s special teams in 2023, finding stability was key. Under former coordinator Stacy Collins, the kicker position was quickly turned over, while the punter position was boring in a good way.
Sander Sahaydak began 2023 as the kicker. However, in the season opener, he missed both of his field goals. He was benched in favor of Alex Felkins, who transferred from Columbia. Felkins finished the season with 104 points, including 19 of 24 field goal attempts while converting all 47 of his extra points.
Backup punter Gabe Nwosu handled kickoffs. In 2023, he was third in the Big Ten with 50 touchbacks. Nwosu was fourth in the conference with a kickoff average of 63.7 yards and a touchback percentage of 65.8%.
At punter, Riley Thompson did well in 2023. He was fourth in the Big Ten, averaging 45.8 yards per punt. The punting unit was ranked second in the Big Ten with a net punting average of 42.9. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten.
A stalwart at running back, Nicholas Singleton also handled kickoff returns. This continues the tradition of Warner and Barkley mentioned above. He returned 13 kicks for 313 yards, an average of 24.1 yards per return. Singleton received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a return specialist.
The lead punt returner in 2023 was Daequan Hardy. He returned 16 punts for 248 yards, an average of 15.5 yards, with two touchdowns. This earned him second-team All-America from CBS Sports, and second-team All-Big Ten from the coaches and media as a return specialist. Kaden Saunders also returned punts, finishing with 14 returns for 86 yards (an average of six yards per return).
Stability is Key in 2024
With new coaches and starters at key positions in the other two phases, as a preview of Penn State 2024 special teams, stability is key. New coordinator Justin Lustig boasts an impressive track record from Vanderbilt, Syracuse, and other stops earlier in his career. Coming to Happy Valley, he is faced with some key decisions, namely a starting kicker, and coaching up the returning members of the unit. He will be pulling together this group without 2023’s special teams captain, Malick Meiga who transferred to Coastal Carolina.
The most interesting aspect of the special teams so far has been the competition for kicker. Last season was the last year of eligibility for Felkins. This gives Sahaydak a clean slate with Lustig. However, he will be competing with Chase Meyer (transfer from Tulsa), and redshirt freshman Ryan Barker. In 2023, Meyer went 17 for 20 on field goals and converted 30 of 31 extra points.
Penn State has often utilized two kickers and Nwosu will keep kickoff duties. However, he is not a prototypical kicker, going at six feet six inches and weighing 280 pounds after arriving at Penn State as a walk-on weighing 302 pounds.
Likely the most stable position is at punter with Thompson returning. He progressively got better throughout 2023 and will look to continue that momentum. The NCAA granted Thompson two additional years of eligibility, adjusting for his career starting in his native Australia.
Stoked to be back. pic.twitter.com/ubkK314cwC
— Riley Thompson (@rathompson_) December 9, 2023
Franklin also noted this Summer that Singleton will continue returning kicks. His running back mate, Kaytron Allen, can also handle kick return duties in a pinch.
Punt returner is a more interesting position to predict. Hardy has graduated and was a sixth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills. Saunders has experience in the role. While he has been steady in fielding punts, Saunders will need to develop big play potential to fill Hardy’s shoes.
The Bottom Line
The formula for success on special teams is consistency in the kicking game with occasional sparks and big plays in the return game. The unit will have the benefit of the kickoff specialist, punter, and kick returner all returning (no pun intended). An inherently dynamic and changing part of any team, Penn State’s special teams will have a new coordinator onboarding a new kicker and punt returner.
The kicker competition continues, with three good options. Consequently, no matter how things go early on, there should be quality backup. As Penn State figures it out in the early going, the hope is that inconsistency at the kicking position will not lose the Nittany Lions games. Nwosu should continue to hone his craft on kickoffs, and Thompson will continue to gain experience in the program. Singleton and Saunders will handle return duties. This is something that both have done before.
Bringing it all together is new special teams coordinator Lustig. Interestingly, he has been very complimentary of his players and brings good experience from quality programs to the table.
The special teams unit is typically a great opportunity for younger players in the program to get experience on the field. Penn State will be looking to replace last season’s special teams captain, and positions like gunner will help define the unit’s success.
The 2024 Penn State special teams should be a position of strength overall. First, Lustig must properly integrate new pieces with the returning players. Importantly, he must identify the new kicker. Additionally, Thompson, Nwosu, Singleton, and Saunders must continue to grow. If those factors are satisfied, the Penn State special teams should be successful.
