Penn State Football: The big question mark no one is talking about
Penn State football has plenty of questions to answer during camp, but one seems to be getting overlooked.
Jordan Stout did a lot for Penn State football last season, like A LOT.
The senior was the Nittany Lions’ primary field goal kicker, punter and kickoff specialist in 2021.
Stout spent three years in Happy Valley after transferring from Virginia Tech.
In 2019, he handled kickoffs and field goals of 50 yards or more. By 2020, he added punting to his list of duties as long-time punter Blake Gillikin moved on to the NFL.
His role expanded even more in 2021 as he won the job as the place kicker. Meaning Stout was responsible for all three phases of special teams.
Not only did Stout have all three jobs, but he was also pretty good at them.
Last season, Stout punted the ball 67 times, averaging 46 yards per punt. His play was a big factor into why Penn State’s defense was so good in 2021; the opposition always had to go the length of the field.
As a place kicker, he went 34/36 on extra points and 16/23 on field goals. His accuracy was off at times, but his big leg made Penn State a threat to score once they reached the opposition’s 40-yard line.
His strongest area is by far kickoffs. Stout had 65 kickoffs in 2021 with 59 being touchbacks. Opposing teams returned only two of his kicks, resulting in 14 yards per return.
Stout’s amazing season resulted in him being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, where he is expected to punt and handle kickoffs.
While the Ravens now have one of the best special teams units in the league with Stout and Justin Tucker, the Nittany Lions now have a big hole to fill.
Penn State likely will call on three different individuals to fill the void left by one of the best specialists the program has ever seen.
At punter, the options are Alex Bacchetta, Gabriel Nwosu and Barney Amor. Bacchetta is a true freshman and was one of the highest ranked punters in the country in the 2022 recruiting cycle. He attended the same high school as the aforementioned Gillikin. Gillikin started as a true freshman, so if Bacchetta is as good as the rankings indicate, the job could be his.
Don’t sleep on Nwosu though. The 6-foot-6, 276-pounder could easily be in the mix as well.
Nwosu does look like the favorite for the kickoff job. With that size, he clearly gets a lot of force behind his kicks, which should result in a bunch of touchbacks. Sophomore Sander Sahaydak could also get a shot here. Sahaydak was the No. 1 kicker in the country in the 2021 recruiting cycle.
The favorite at place kicker is Jake Pinegar. Pinegar had been the place kicker before Stout took over last season. For his career, Pinegar has made 74% of his field goals and 96.5% of extra points. He may not have the leg strength of Stout, but he is a bit more accurate. Sahaydak will likely get an opportunity to compete here as well, but it’s hard to see Pinegar not winning this job.
There certainly is not a lack of options for Penn State’s staff to pick from. Through competition in fall camp, they should be able to find a capable starter at each position. The problem is, you’re now relying on three people to be great instead of one.
Replacing Stout will not be easy, but it must be done. Special teams are just as important as offense and defense. This unit puts points on the board and prevents the opposition from doing so, Stout was quite good at both these tasks.
Most of the attention this month will be on the battles on the offensive line and at middle linebacker, but keep an eye on the specialists’ battles, they’re equally as important.