Head coach James Franklin raved about punter Gabe Nwosu, but no one got a chance to see what exactly he's capable of during Week 1 when the Penn State offense scored on every drive against Nevada. Week 2 was a different story and in the absence of offensive sparks, special teams shined.
"I think special teams is really making some game-changing plays," Franklin said in Monday's press conference. "You saw [Nwosu's 67]-yard punt. I don't know if I've ever experienced a reaction in the stadium for a punt like that."
Though he preferred the offense to have a more energetic showing against Florida International on Saturday, Franklin was pleased that fans saw what the team did during fall camp.
All three of Nwosu's punts landed inside the 20-yard line, averaging 53.3 yards per punt for a total of 160 yards. It wasn't his ceiling either and Franklin said that he, like all other players and position groups, has things to clean up. He had a net 50 yards and two tumbled out of bounds.
Still, though, Franklin knows Nwosu is special. He expects special teams to be another dominant force on the field capable of changing the trajectory of the game.
"[Nwosu's] the closest thing to Jordan Stout that we've had here. His A ball was . . . maybe as good as we've ever had here . . . He just had a phenomenal camp, not only in kickoff and punting, but also field goal," Franklin said in his press conference after Nevada. ". . . He was competing for the starting job as a field goal kicker as well. Made a 62-yarder in practice . . . probably would've been good from 65 or 66 . . . He just put it all together this summer and was consistent and it was pretty obvious to everybody."
That's not to say anything bad of Riley Thompson. Franklin said ahead of the Week 1 season opener that the Nittany Lions are looking for consistency, which is what Nwosu had over Thompson to land the starting role. He expects to play Thompson here and there, especially after being Penn State's primary punter in 2024 while Nwosu played all 16 games as its kickoff specialist. As for now, though, the redshirt senior has the No. 1 punter position locked up.