While there have been many questions around Penn State this season, far too many to count, surrounding the head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator, one position remains a stable constant.
Penn State special teams coordinator Justin Lustig is leading arguably the best special teams unit in the country.
The country has officially taken notice. On Tuesday, Lustig was named a nominee for the 2025 Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football.
Lustig is one of 63 nominees, nine who serve as special teams coordinators, including three from the Big Ten. Lustig joins Mike Ekeler (Nebraska) and LeVar Woods (Iowa) representing the conference.
The Nittany Lions have been a force to be reckoned with in the third phase of the game. Penn State has blocked five kicks and five punts, tied for the first and second-most in the nation, respectively.
Dani Dennis-Sutton leads the team with three blocked punts, tied for the most in a single season in program history. Dennis Sutton’s blocked punt against Michigan State tied him with Jack Ham (1968) and Andre Collins (1989).
Kicker Ryan Barker is 13-of-14 on field goals, and has only missed one extra point. Punter Gabe Nwosu averages 46 yards per punt.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Junior linebacker Tony Rojas showed his support for Lustig on social media.
“One of the best coaches I’ve ever been around day in day out,” Rojas said on Twitter. “Same guy everyday 💯 got us wanting to play for him hard since Week 1.”
Lustig is in his second season as special teams coordinator, his 25th year as a football coach, and also serves as the outside linebackers/nickels coach.
Fans can have their voices heard and help determine the winner for the Broyles Award at BroylesAward.com/vote. Voting is now open, and one vote can be cast every 24 hours. The coach who received the most fan votes will receive one collective vote in the process.
There will be three rounds of voting — the first to determine the semifinalists — with the first round concluding on Sunday at noon.
The Broyles Award will be presented at Oaklawn Hot Springs casino in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on February 12, 2026.
