We continue are look at reasons to be excited or…oh so scared…as the season kicks off by heading to where the ball actually is kicked: special teams. Let’s look at reasons you should feel good about the Lions heading into 2026.
- Ryan Barker is Back
Barker has moved from steady and consistent, to downright good at the placekicker position. He took over near the midway point of the 2024 season and drilled the game-winning field goal in overtime to help Penn State knock off USC at the Coliseum. Last year, he earned honorable
mention all-conference as he made 18-of-19 field goals on the season – his lone miss was a long-range boot that was blocked. He enters the season having made 88.2 percent of his field goal attempts in blue and white, which would be a school record for accuracy if it holds.
2. Justin Lustig Returns
Lustig will be back as the special teams coordinator, giving a familiar face and some continuity to a program that needed some stability. The special teams unit has been consistent the past couple of seasons, starting with the aforementioned Barker. There will be a lot of moving pieces and new faces with spots like long snapper, punter, kickoff specialist, and returner needing to be replaced. But, Lustig’s group has played clean football the past couple of seasons and having him in charge is a bonus in Matt Campbell’s first year.
3. New Faces in Portal
Penn State will likely rely on a punter and kickoff specialist from the portal. But again, Penn State – under Lustig – has done a solid job the past two seasons of getting fresh faces up to speed. Cristiano Rosa figures to be the kickoff specialist replacing Gabe Nwosu. Rosa did an admirable job putting the ball through the end zone as he played for James Madison during their playoff caliber season.
