Penn State Football: Grades Nittany Lions in win vs. Rutgers
By Dylan Burd
Special Teams
Special teams were firing on all cylinders on Saturday. K.J Hamler had three kickoff returns for an average of 26 yards and a punt return for 24 yards. Penn State also didn’t allow Rutgers to have a single kickoff return and held the Scarlet Knight’s sole punt return to one yard.
Blake Gillikin had four punts for an average of 49.3 yards, including one punt that went 72 yards. Additionally, Jake Pinegar made three of his four attempted extra points. His second one was blocked.
Furthermore, on a Penn State kickoff late in the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions were able to jump on a squib that couldn’t be handled by Rutgers, leading to a first and goal. Penn State couldn’t get into the end zone on that possession, but it was a big play made by special teams.
In a rarity, special teams also committed no penalties in the game. The game couldn’t have gone better for them overall.