UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State will have a new starting kicker Saturday against UCLA
A source tells Nittany Sports Now that Ryan Barker will make his first collegiate start against UCLA.
Barker relieved Sander Sahaydak in Penn Stateโs 21-7 win over Illinois, kicking the extra point following Kaytron Allenโs game-sealing touchdown.
A redshirt-freshman and former walk-on from Landenberg, Pa, Barker made his first-career extra point against Kent State. Heโs never attempted a field goal in his collegiate career.
Sahaydak missed two 40-yard field goals against the Illini and is 2-5 on kicks this season. He finds himself in a similar position as last year after struggling early and ultimately being replaced by Alex Felkins.
Tulsa transfer Chase Meyer has not seen game action this season after competing with Meyer and Sahaydak during training camp.
Both history and logic suggest that one of those two will be starting at kicker for Penn State Saturday.
But, as expected, Franklin didnโt announce anything during his weekly presser Monday.
โWhen weโre talking about kicking, itโs not kicking, because weโve been punting fairly well in particular, and have been kicking off fairly well,โ Franklin said. โItโs field goals. But the question was, are we kicking better in practice than we were in the game? Yeah, I mean, obviously we decide who the starter is at every position based on practice.โ
Franklin then said than Sahaydak won the job during training camp and in then season.
โAll the data and the statistics back that up,โ he said. โDuring the spring it was a closer battle. Then, Sander slowly but surely took the lead. But it was close. I think everybody felt comfortable that that was the right decision.
So, weโll factor all of that in this week in making the decision. It will be a competition.โ
Penn State hosts UCLA at noon for the annual Stripe Out game before the biggest game of the season to date at No. 11 USC next Saturday.
