What is the Penn State plan at kicker after using both on Saturday to beat West Virginia?
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State coach James Franklin has not decided who his place kicker will be next week when the Nittany Lions return to the field to take on Delaware. The Nittany Lions used two to beat West Virginia on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Sander Sahaydak made two extra points but missed a 35- and 38-yard field goals. He gave way to newcomer Alex Felkins, who transferred in after an All-Ivy League performance at Columbia. He made a 25-yard field goal and also connected on three extra points.
Franklin said the preseason camp battle between the two was close. Sahaydak surged late in August to earn the starting job. Whether or not he will have it in Week 2 when the Blue Hens visit for a Noon kick on Peacock, however, remains to be seen.
“It really could have went either way,” Franklin said. “I think if you look at it, early on, Felkins had the lead. Then, Sander kind of took the lead late in training camp, probably over the last week, but it was still very close. So close enough that after we missed two field goals,that I do not thing were long, challenging field goals, that it was close enough during camp to go to the other guy.”
It’s also worth noting that, despite how close the competition was, there was no plan to give each kicker a half. Instead, the change at halftime was specifically related to the two misses. Both kicks were pulled to the right of the north end zone goal post. Neither had a great chance to be good. And, there were no issues with the snap or hold. Those misses were on Sahaydak.
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This space’s initial reaction would be to think that Penn State will go with Felkins in Week 2 until he gives the Lions a reason to not keep the job. But, he will have to earn that right during the upcoming week of practice, which starts on Tuesday.
“I can’t tell you my plan moving forward,” Franklin said. “Obviously we made a change. We’ll discuss it. There’ll be competition all year long with every position, but we have the depth that if it’s not a guy’s night, we have somebody else that we can put in at really every position. But, we obviously have not made any decisions.
“We haven’t met as a staff, [and] we haven’t watched film. We haven’t had a week of competition. So, no decisions.”
