Penn State Football: Who Will the Kicker be in 2023?

Nov 19, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions place kicker Sander Sahaydak (93) kicks a field goal during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions place kicker Sander Sahaydak (93) kicks a field goal during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Place kicker Jake Pinegar #92 of the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Place kicker Jake Pinegar #92 of the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

2. Sander Sahaydak

Sander Sahaydak enters his Redshirt Sophomore season in 2023. He redshirted during the 2021 campaign but sat behind former Penn State and current Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout and Jake Pinegar learning from those veterans. Last season, he finally got his opportunity to take the field. Although he did not beat Jake Pinegar out for the kicking job, he primarily spent time as a kickoff specialist. In 2022 he recorded 4 touchbacks in 15 kickoff attempts. Then on November 19th at Rutgers, he connected on his field career field goal from 20 yards away.

Sahaydak is from Bethlehem, PA and he was rated as the #2 overall kicker in the 2021 class out of the state of Pennsylvania according to 247sports.

Overall, the competition will be between these two players in my opinion. A walk-on who is trying to take his game to the next level by betting on himself, or a PA native that has been waiting patiently for his turn. Regardless, whoever wins this job will be a very important to Penn State Football’s success in 2023!

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