Kicking & Kick Return Leaders

Penn State’s All-time Kicking Leaders—

Career Field Goal Leaders—

All stats are “Modified/Complete” including all Bowls/Post-Season games (except where labeled “official”)

Left footed kickers marked by “L”

  1. Kevin Kelly (L 2005-08)—78 FGs on 107 Attempts (both PSU career bests), 72.9% (career long-53 yds. vs. Iowa 2007)—set NCAA record with FGs made in 31 consecutive games 2006-08—Kelly is also PSU’s all-time scoring leader with 425 total points (417 pts. via kicking FGs/PATs) with 1 TD (on a 5 yd. rush on fake FG at Michigan State 2007) & 1 two-point conversion run on a bad snap/hold at Michigan 2005—Kelly kicked 5 FGs in 4 career bowl games—Best remembered FG: 29 yds. for 26-23 win in 3-OT over Florida State in 2006 Orange Bowl

  2. Travis Forney (1996-99)—54 FGs on 71* Attempts, 76.1% (career long-50 yds. at Minnesota 1998—was 4 for 6 on FGs in this game)—Forney kicked 7 FGs in 3 career bowl games (long-43 yds. in 1999 Outback Bowl vs. Kentucky)

  3. Sam Ficken (2011-14)—54 FGs on 75 Attempts, 72.0% (career long-54 yds. vs. Kent State 2013)—Ficken kicked 1 FG in 1 career bowl game—Best remembered FG: 36 yds. as clock expired in 26-24 win over Central Florida at 2014 Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland (Ficken was 4 for 4 on FGs in this game)

  4. Craig Fayak (1990-93)—52 FGs on 83 Attempts, 62.7% (career long-50 yds. at Alabama 1990)—First PSU kicker to reach 50 FGs in career (broke Nick Gancitano record of 42 set in 1984) & first to reach exactly 300 career kicking points (then PSU’s career scoring record/on 52 FGs & 144 PATs)—Fayak kicked 2 FGs in 3 career bowl games—Best remembered FG: 34 yds. with 4 seconds remaining in the 24-21 win at #1 Notre Dame in 1990

  5. Brett Conway (1993-96)—50 FGs on 69* Attempts, 72.5% (career long-52 yds. vs. Temple at Giants Stadium 1996)—Conway kicked 5 FGs in 3 career bowl games (3 for 4 on FGs in 1996 Outback Bowl vs. Auburn—set then PSU bowl record of 13 pts. via kicking)

  6. Jake Pinegar (2018-22)—49 FGs on 67 Attempts, 73.1% (career long-50 yds. at Indiana 2022 & vs. Maryland 2022)—Pinegar was 4th PSU kicker to cross 300 career point mark (342 pts.)—Set PSU True Freshman scoring record of 101 points in 2018 (breaking old mark of 99 pts. by Kevin Kelly in 2005—includes 2 pt. conversion run)—Pinegar kicked 3 FGs in 4 career bowl games

    ACTIVE KICKER 2026—Ryan Barker (L 2023-present)—38 FGs on 43 Attempts, 88.4% (current best career % at PSU all-time—min. 25 attempts)—(career long-49 yds. vs. Maryland 2024 & vs. Oregon 2025)—Barker is 13 of 15 on FGs of 40+ yards in career—Barker has kicked 7 FGs in 5 career post-season/bowl games on 8 attempts—Best remembered FG: 36 yds. in 33-30 OT win at USC in 2024 (Barker was 4 for 4 on FGs in this game)—Barker PATs: Career 107 of 109 (15 of 15 in 2026)

    *Asterisks above indicate unconfirmed number of post-season attempts

    >See “Goalpost Notes" at very bottom on widths & locations<

    Career Field Goal Leaders (Bowls/Post-Season)—

    Most in Bowls (Career)—Travis Forney 7 FGs (3 bowls), Ryan Barker (L) 5 FGs (3 bowls), Collin Wagner 5 FGs (2 bowls), Kevin Kelly (L) 5 FGs (4 bowls), Brett Conway 5 FGs (3 bowls), & Chris Bahr 5 FGs (3 bowls)

    Most in CFP Games (Career)—Ryan Barker (L) 3 FGs made (3 games in 2024/1 for 1 in all 3)

    Most in Big Ten Championships (Career)—Tyler Davis 1 FG in 2016 (1 for 1), Ryan Barker (L) 1 FG in 2024 (1 of 2)

    Most in All Post-Season Games (Career Combined)—Ryan Barker (L) 7 FGs (5 games), Travis Forney 7 FGs (3 games)

    First PSU player to kick FG in a bowl game—Mike Palm QB 20 yards (by drop kick) in 1923 Rose Bowl vs. USC

    First PSU player to kick FG in a bowl game from placement—Don Jonas HB 23 yards in 1961 Gator Bowl vs. Georgia Tech

    Last PSU non-full time kicking specialist to make FG in a bowl game—Tony Capozzolli QB/PK 26 yards in 1976 Gator Bowl vs. Notre Dame (was also last non-soccer style kicker at PSU to do this)

Season Field Goal Leaders—

  • Travis Forney (1998)—24 FGs on 34 Attempts, 70.6% (season long-50 yds.)—34 attempts tied with Kevin Kelly in 2006 for 2nd most at PSU behind Chris Bahr 35 in 1975

  • Sam Ficken (2014)—24 FGs on 29 Attempts, 82.8% (season long-50 yds.)

    6 Players with 22 made FGs—Matt Bahr 1978, Massimo Manca 1985, Ray Tarasi 1989, Travis Forney 1999, Kevin Kelly (L) 2006, & Tyler Davis 2016—Kelly also had 20 FGs each in 2007 & 2008 for PSU record of 3 seasons with 20+ (First to reach 20 FGs in single season—Chris Bahr with 20 in 1975 on PSU single season record 35 attempts)

    Best Single Season FG Pct.—Ryan Barker (L) 94.7% on 18 of 19 FGs in 2025 (Old Mark: Tyler Davis 91.7% on 22 of 24 FGs in 2016 & Jake Pinegar 91.7% on 11 of 12 FGs in 2019)—First to surpass 80% FG Pct.: Matt Bahr 81.5% on 22 of 27 FGs in 1978

Single Game Field Goal Leaders (Regular Season)—

  • 5 Field Goals Made—Brian Franco 1981 at Nebraska (5 for 5/long-48 yds.)

  • 5 Field Goals Made—Massimo Manca 1985 vs. Notre Dame (5 for 5/long-50 yds.)—Manca made 4+ FGs in 4 career games matching PSU record shared with Matt Bahr (set in 1978)

  • 5 Field Goals Made—Travis Forney 1998 vs. Michigan State (5 of 6/long-40 yds./missed from 48 yds.)—Forney set modern PSU single game kick scoring record with 19 pts. in this game (also holds PSU bowl/post-season record)

  • 5 Field Goals Made—Collin Wagner 2010 vs. Temple (5 of 6/long-45 yds./missed from 32 yds.)

  • 4 Field Goals Made (Several kickers)—1st to do it—Chris Bahr 1974 at Pitt (Three Rivers Stadium) on 4 for 4 kicking (long-50 yds.)

    PSU record for FG Attempts in a single game (6): Travis Forney 1998 MSU (5 made) & 1998 Minnesota (4 made), Collin Wagner 2010 Temple (5 made), & Massimo Manca 1986 West Virginia (4 made)

    Single Game Field Goal Leaders (Bowls/Post-Season)—

  • 4 Field Goals Made—Travis Forney 1999 Outback Bowl vs. Kentucky (4 of 5/long-43 yds.)—Forney set PSU bowl/post-season single game kick scoring record with 14 pts. in this game (broke Brett Conway mark of 13 pts. set in 1996 Outback Bowl vs. Auburn)

  • 4 Field Goals Made—Collin Wagner 2010 Capital One Bowl vs. LSU (4 of 4/long-26 yds.)

    PSU best in single CFP games & Big Ten Championship Games is 1 FG (Tyler Davis 2016/Ryan Barker 2024 in 4 games)

    First PSU Kicker to make 3 FGs in single Bowl/Post-Season game: Alberto Vitiello (L) 3 of 3 in 1972 Cotton Bowl vs. Texas (also first to surpass 10 bowl kicking points: 12 pts. with 3 of 3 on PATs in same game)

Longest Field Goals (53+ Club)—

  • 57 yards—Jordan Stout 2019 vs. Pitt (broke Bahr PSU record & the Beaver Stadium record of 54 yds. set by Sam Ficken in 2013 vs. Kent St.)—Stout kicked 4 career FGs of 50+ yards

  • 55 yards—Chris Bahr 1975 vs. Temple at Franklin Field (broke Pete Mauthe FB record of 51 yards set in 1912 at Pitt, Forbes Field)

  • 55 yards—Chris Bahr 1975 at Ohio State (Bahr was also short on a 57-yard FG attempt in this game)

  • 55 yards—Chris Bahr 1975 at Syracuse (Bahr’s best at Beaver Stadium: then record 52 yds. vs. West Virginia in 1975)

  • 54 yards—Herb Menhardt 1979 at NC State—kick came with 1 second left on clock to pull out 9-7 win

  • 54 yards—Sam Ficken 2013 vs. Kent State (broke Beaver Stadium record of 53 yds. set by Manca in 1985)—Ficken kicked 2 FGs of 50+ yds. in his career

  • 53 yards—Massimo Manca 1985 vs. Notre Dame (broke Bahr’s Beaver Stadium record of 52 yds from 1975)—Manca kicked 3 FGs of 50+ yds. in his career

  • 53 yards—Kevin Kelly (L) 2007 vs. Iowa (longest by a lefty)—Kelly connected on 3 FGs of 50+ yds. in his career

  • 53 yards—Jordan Stout 2019 vs. Idaho

    Chris Bahr (1973-75) kicked 6 FGs of 50+ yards in his career (5 on the road/none in bowls)—Chris Bahr kicked 40 FGs at PSU (including bowls) breaking the previous career mark of 20 set by Larry Vorhis QB (1906-09)—Note: Matt Bahr (1976-78) broke his brother’s record with 41 career FGs (Nick Gancitano would pass Matt with 42 FGs from 1981-84)

    Longest Field Goals (Bowls/Post-Season)—

  • 51 yards—Ray Tarasi 1989 Holiday Bowl vs. BYU—Tarasi’s only 50+ yard FG at PSU—12 pts. scored via kicking by Tarasi in this game matched then PSU kicker scoring record set by Alberto Vitiello (L) in 1972 Cotton Bowl vs. Texas

  • 49 yards—Nick Gancitano 1983 Aloha Bowl vs. Washington (broke own record set in Jan. 1983)

  • 48 yards—Ryan Barker (L) 2025 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Clemson

  • 45 yards—Nick Gancitano 1983 Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia (broke Chris Bahr bowl record set in 1974)

  • 45 yards—Sam Ficken 2014 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Boston College

  • 45 yards—Jake Pinegar 2019 Cotton Bowl vs. Memphis (also kicked 43-yard FG in 2022 Outback Bowl vs. Arkansas)

  • 44 yards—Chris Bahr 1974 Orange Bowl vs. LSU (also kicked 42-yard FG in 1975 Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama)

    Longest FG in Big Ten Championship Game: 33 yards—Ryan Barker (L) 2024 vs. Oregon

    Most Points via Kicking in a Big Ten Championship Game: 8 pts.—Tyler Davis 2016 vs. Wisconsin

    Longest FG in a CFP Game: 40 yards—Ryan Barker (L) 2024 vs. SMU & 2024 Fiesta Bowl/QF vs. Boise State

    Most Points via Kicking in a CFP Game: 8 pts.—Ryan Barker (L) 2024 1st Round vs. SMU

    Most Points via Kicking in a Bowl/Post-Season Game: 14 pts.—Travis Forney 1999 Outback Bowl vs. Kentucky

Most Extra Points Kicked in Career—

  • 195 PATs Made—Jake Pinegar (2018-2022) on 202 Attempts, 96.5% (also holds PSU career attempts record)

  • 183 PATs Made—Kevin Kelly (L 2005-2008) on 185 Attempts, 98.9%

  • 152 PATs Made—Brett Conway (1993-1996) on 154 Attempts, 98.7%

  • 144 PATs Made—Tyler Davis (2015-2017) on 144 Attempts, 100.0% (holds PSU career record for most consecutive PATs)

  • 144 PATs Made—Craig Fayak (1990-1993) on 151 Attempts, 95.4%

    3 modern-era PSU Kickers have made 100% of their Career PAT Attempts (min. 50): Tyler Davis (2015-17) 144 of 144, Collin Wagner (2006-10) 85 of 85, & Herb Menhardt (1976, 1978-80) 63 of 63

    First from PSU to make 100+ Career PATs: Alberto Vitiello (L 1971-1972) 101 of 105 attempts, 96.2%

Most Extra Points Kicked in Season—

  • 71 PATs Made—Tyler Davis (2017) on 71 Attempts, 100.0% (also holds PSU single season attempts record)

  • 66 PATs Made—Brett Conway (1994) on 67 Attempts, 98.5% (was also perfect on PATs in 1995 season—41 of 41)

  • 62 PATs Made—Tyler Davis (2016) on 62 Attempts, 100.0%

  • 62 PATs Made—Alberto Vitiello (L 1971) on 65 Attempts, 95.4% (at the time, this broke the PSU single season record of 34 PATs on 38 attempts by Mike Reitz OG/K set in 1969—previous mark was 33 PATs on 48 attempts by Ed Czekaj End/K in 1947)

  • 60 PATs Made—Kevin Kelly (L 2008) on 60 Attempts, 100.0%

    First modern-era PSU Kicker to have perfect single season on PATs: Matt Bahr (1978) 32 for 32

Most Extra Points Kicked in Single Game—

  • 10 PATs Made (then known as “goals after touchdown”)—Charles Atherton FB/K 1894 vs. Gettysburg (at Old Beaver Field) on 10 Attempts by drop kick (10 attempts is also all-time record at State)—Prior to 1897, PATs were worth 2 points apiece and Atherton’s 20 points via kicking is the overall Penn State single game record (modern kicking single game record is 19 pts. by Travis Forney 1998 vs. Michigan State)

  • 10 PATs Made—Travis Forney PK 1999 vs. Akron (at Beaver Stadium) on 10 Attempts

  • 10 PATs Made—Jake Pinegar PK 2019 vs. Idaho (at Beaver Stadium) on 10 Attempts

  • 9 PATs Made—Carl Forkum FB/K 1903 at Western Univ. of Pennsylvania (now Pitt) on 10 Attempts (per Media Guide Timeline/not listed in kicking records section)

    Post-Season/Bowl Records—

  • Most PATs Made in a Bowl game—Tyler Davis PK 7 for 7 in 2017 Rose Bowl vs. USC—Craig Fayak 6 for 6 in 1992 Fiesta Bowl vs. Tennessee & Jake Pinegar 6 for 6 in 2019 Cotton Bowl vs. Memphis

  • Most PATs Made in a CFP game—Ryan Barker PK (L) 5 for 5 in 2024 1st Round vs. SMU (at Beaver Stadium)

  • Most PATs Made in a Big Ten Championship game—Tyler Davis PK 5 for 5 in 2016 vs. Wisconsin (at Indianapolis)—Ryan Barker (L) was 4 for 4 vs. Oregon in 2024

    All-Time Penn State Scoring Leaders (total points)—

  • 425 points—Kevin Kelly PK (L)—78 FGs, 183 PATs (kicking), 1 TD run, 1 two-point conversion run—Kicking total-417 pts. (also the PSU points record)

  • 342 points—Jake Pinegar PK—49 FGs, 195 PATs (kicking)—decided to forego final season of eligibility in 2023 (had Covid-19 waiver for 2020)

  • 332 points—Nick Singleton RB—45 TDs rushing, 9 TDs receiving, 1 kick return TD, 1 two-point conversion reception—PSU points record for non-kickers

  • 318 points—Saquon Barkley RB—43 TDs rushing, 8 TDs receiving, 2 kick return TDs—decided to forego final season of eligibility to turn pro in 2018

  • 302 points—Brett Conway PK—50 FGs, 152 PATs (kicking)

  • 300 points—Craig Fayak PK—52 FGs, 144 PATs (kicking)

    Most Points scored in a single season: 180 pts.—Lydell Mitchell TB 1971 (27 TDs rushing, 3 TDs receiving)—Mitchell scored 258 career points (39 TDs rushing, 4 TDs receiving)—Most Points by Lydell in a single game: 30 pts. 1971 at Navy (5 TDs rushing) & 1971 vs. Maryland (5 TDs rushing)—Lydell’s 1971 “official” totals of 26 rushing TDs, 29 all-purpose TDs, and 174 points scored were NCAA Records at the time

    Most Points scored in a single season by a Kicker: 128 pts.—Tyler Davis 2016 (22 FGs, 62 PATs)—Davis scored 261 career points (39 FGs, 144 PATs)

    Most Points scored in a single game: 36 pts.—Harry Robb QB 1917 vs. Gettysburg (6 TDs rushing)—Carl Forkum FB is officially credited with 33 pts. in 1903 at Western Univ. of Pennsylvania (now Pitt) at the Colosseum (oddly, for the era, a 100-yard field) with 4 TDs rushing/9 PATs/0 FGs in the PSU Media Guide records section, but the Media Guide Timeline refers to Forkum having scored 5 TDs with 9 PATs on 10 attempts for 39 total pts. which, if accurate, would actually be the school’s all-time record ahead of Robb—However, the Pittsburgh Post game story & Pitt records agree on 4 TDs, not 5—Also, touchdowns in 1903 were valued at 5 pts. not 6 bringing the 33 point total into question, as well (TDs did not become 6 pts. until 1912)—Forkum’s correct scoring total is likely 29 points which is consistent with the rules of the era and the game’s reported scoring summary for the 59-0 Penn State victory

    Most Points scored in a single game by a Kicker: 20 pts.—Charles Atherton FB 1894 vs. Gettysburg (PSU record 10 Goals after TD/PATs on 10 attempts then worth 2 pts. each/he missed his only FG attempt)—Atherton also scored 3 TDs rushing in this game (then worth 4 pts. each) for 32 total points scored (the PSU single game record that is incorrectly “officially recognized” as broken in 1903 by Carl Forkum FB at WUP/Pitt—see above—his record actually stood until 1917)

    Modern record for Kickers: 19 pts.—Travis Forney PK 1998 vs. Michigan State (PSU record 5 FGs on 6 attempts worth 3 pts./4 PATs on 4 attempts worth 1 pt.)

    Note: Charles Atherton FB/End/Kicker (1890-94) is credited as the first Penn State player to successfully convert a field goal kick from placement (instead of drop kick) in the 1894 win at Oberlin, 9-6—The holder was Charles Thomas RHB (center pass was reportedly by George Hoskins who was also the State Head Coach at the time)—The ball was at the 25 yard line of Oberlin and would be the only FG made by State that season—Several weeks passed before a college rules panel agreed the kick was legal upholding the game referee’s decision. This was one of the earliest (if not, THE earliest) kicks reported to have been from placement in college football.

LINK HERE TO PUNTING LEADERS

Penn State’s All-Time Kick Return Leaders—

All stats are “Modified/Complete” including all Bowls/Post-Season games (except where labeled “official”)

  1. Chaz Powell CB (2007-11)—1,866 career yards on 73 returns, 2 TDs, 25.6 YPR—Career Yards Total & Career Returns Total are PSU records (also holds PSU single season record of 733 return yards on 27 returns in 2011—3rd behind Miles Sanders RB with 33 returns in 2016)

    *Official PSU Career Record for Kick YPR: 29.6 by Larry Joe HB (1942, 1946-48)—Joe returned 16 kicks for 473 yards, 1 TD per official Media Guide records which appear to leave out Joe’s stats from his 1942 Sophomore season prior to WWII military service (1943-45) where he did return kicks including 1 for a TD

Kick Return Career TD Leaders—

  • 3 TDs—Curt Warner TB (1979-82)—95 yds. vs. Pitt 1979, 89 yds. vs. Colgate 1980, & 88 yds. at West Virginia 1980 (Curt’s official career YPR of 28.8 is 2nd All-time to Larry Joe—Warner officially made 32 returns for 922 yds.)

  • 2 TDs—Chuck Peters HB (1938-40)—101 yds. vs. NYU 1940 & 96 yds. at Lehigh 1940 (established PSU single season record of 2 kick returns for TDs—later matched by Warner, Williams, & Barkley)

  • 2 TDs—Larry Joe HB (1942, 1946-48)—90 yds. vs. Pitt 1942 & 95 yds. vs. Bucknell 1947—The 1942 TD return is missing from the PSU Media Guide kick return records section but was reported by the Daily Collegian & Pittsburgh Press

  • 2 TDs—Derrick Williams WR/FL (2005-08)—94 yds. vs. Illinois 2008 & 89 yds. vs. Coastal Carolina 2008—Williams also had 3 career punt returns for TDs, and his 5 total return TDs are the PSU record (previous record: 4 returns for TD by Bruce Branch CB in 1998-2001—all punts)

  • 2 TDs—Chaz Powell CB (2007-11)—100 yds. vs. Youngstown State 2010 & 95 yds. vs. Indiana State 2011

  • 2 TDs—Saquon Barkley RB (2015-17)—98 yds. vs. Indiana 2017 & 97 yds. at Ohio State 2017

    Note: Fritz Barrett FB (1909-11) might also have 2 career Kick Returns for TDs (see next)

    Longest Kick Returns for TD All-Time (100-yard Club)—

  • Carl Forkum FB—115 yards in 1904 vs. Allegheny at Old Beaver Field (110-yard field era/pre-1912)—This is listed on the Media Guide Timeline but is not listed among the Penn State kick return records

  • Fritz Barrett FB—109 yards in 1911 vs. Geneva at New Beaver Field (110-yard field era/pre-1912)—This is credited in the Media Guide as a run from scrimmage, but may, in fact, be a kick return based on the description of the play in the Penn State Collegian game story (“Barrett received Geneva’s 6th kickoff and ran the length of the field for a touchdown”)—If so, Barrett is the first to have two career kick returns for touchdowns ahead of Peters

  • Chuck Peters HB—101 yards in 1940 vs. NYU at New Beaver Field—this came on the game’s opening kickoff and is the longest at State on a 100-yard field (rule changes have made this unbreakable)—Peters also had a 96-yard return at Lehigh earlier in the 1940 season officially making him the first to do it twice in a single season & twice in a career (depending on validity of Barrett 1911 return—see above)

  • Fritz Barrett FB—100 yards in 1910 vs. Carnegie Tech at New Beaver Field (110-yard field era/pre-1912)—This is the only Barrett kick return listed in the PSU Media Guide records section

  • Roger Kochman HB—100 yards in 1959 vs. Syracuse at New Beaver Field

  • Rich Mauti FL—100 yards in 1975 vs. Temple at Franklin Field, Philadelphia

  • Chaz Powell CB—100 yards in 2010 vs. Youngstown State (FCS) at Beaver Stadium—This is the first 100-yard kick return at Beaver Stadium breaking the old venue record of 97 yards by AJ Wallace CB in 2007 vs. #1 Ohio State—Powell also had a 95-yard kick return for TD in 2011 vs. Indiana State

  • Lamont Wade S—100 yards in 2020 vs. Illinois at Beaver Stadium—First time vs. a Big Ten opponent/First at Beaver Stadium vs. FBS opponent (could also be considered first & only 100-yard kick return in a post-season game based on game being scheduled after conclusion of “regular” season games)

  • Nick Singleton RB—100 yards in 2022 at Rutgers—First 100-yard return by PSU in an official road game (1975 Franklin Field is considered a neutral site/game was originally scheduled at Beaver Stadium)—A 97-yard kick return by Singleton for TD in 2024 vs. Washington was called back for holding on PSU

    Longest Kick Return by PSU that did not result in a TD—95 yards by Gary Brown TB in 1990 vs. Texas at Beaver Stadium—Brown had a PSU record 201 yards in kick returns in this game—In 1990, Brown officially made 8 returns for 344 yards and a PSU single season YPR of 43.0 (passing Curt Warner TB official record of 35.0 YPR on 10 returns set in 1980)

    Longest Kick Return by PSU in a Bowl/Post-Season game—Kenny Watson SE 81 yds. in 1997 Fiesta Bowl vs. Texas (non-scoring) & Ambrose Fletcher TB 72 yds. in 1995 Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (non-scoring)—Currently, no other returns exceed 50 yds. either scoring or non-scoring

    Best Single Bowl/Post-Season Game Kick Return Performance—OJ McDuffie FL 5 returns for 128 yards (long-46 yds.), 25.6 YPC, 0 TDs in 1989 Holiday Bowl vs. BYU—Previous best was Leroy Thompson TB 6 for 127 yds., 0 TDs in 1988 Citrus Bowl vs. Clemson (remains best by a True Freshman)

Onside Kick Returns for TDs (since 1966)—

  • Anthony Scirrotto S/Hero—29 yards in 2006 win vs. Illinois (Scirrotto also had 2 INTs in the game to kill Illini drives)

  • Joe Jackson LB—50 yards in 1975 Cotton Bowl win vs. Baylor (this last second TD return by Jackson allowed John Reihner to kick a then PSU bowl game record 5th PAT breaking Henry Oppermann’s record of 4 PATs in the 1960 Liberty Bowl win over Oregon)—This is the only kick return for a TD in a bowl/post-season game for PSU (unless 2020 Illinois game is also considered a post-season game bringing the Wade 100-yard return into the conversation)

  • Ted Kwalick TE—53 yards in 1968 win vs. Army (53 yards was reported by Daily Collegian, La Vie, and AP, but game film shows Kwalick had possession around the PSU 44—so a 55/56-yard return is probably more accurate)

    Blocked FG Returns for TDs—

  • 2016 vs. Ohio State—In a PSU first, Marcus Allen S and Grant Haley CB combine to turn both the game and the season upside down in the 4th quarter of the Nittany Lions upset 24-21 win over #2 OSU… The Buckeyes lost track of the play clock, and their field goal unit was rushed into a kick by Tyler Durbin that was blocked easily by Marcus Allen… Grant Haley scooped up the ball and raced 60 yards for the score, falling into the endzone after a shoelace tackle attempt by the OSU holder who had chased Haley the entire way… That TD with 4:27 to go put the Lions on top to stay… The win put PSU on track for a stunning run to the Big Ten title…

    Penn State has also scored a TD off its own field goal blocked by an opponent (see “Nittany Notes” below)

    Biggest Hits by PSU Kickers on Kick Returners—

  • Joey Julius (PK 2014-16)—2016 vs. Kent State—Joey Julius quickly became a crowd favorite with his kick coverage… Julius first made his mark in the season opener at Beaver Stadium in a 33-13 win… 2nd quarter, Saquon Barkley has just scored to put PSU in front 13-6… On the ensuing kickoff, 260-pounder kicker Joey Julius makes an impression… He puts his toe into the ball to about the Kent State 2-yard line… Kavious Price takes it and works his way to the right sideline and as he reaches the 24, the journey ends with a thud… Julius puts his right shoulder into Price staggering him and knocking him several yards backwards… The crowd and Joey’s teammates love it… Julius will deliver another big hit three weeks later in a loss at Michigan… Just a couple of big moments from what would become the unlikeliest of all Big Ten Championship seasons…

  • David Kimball (PK/KO 2000-03)—2002 vs. Nebraska—Kimball would put the icing on one of the most memorable games in PSU history, the 40-7 blowout win over the 8th ranked Huskers… 4th quarter, Larry Johnson has just scored his 2nd TD for the game’s final points… Kimball, the kickoff specialist, booms one about 5 yards deep in the endzone, but Josh Davis decides to bring it out and he finds a seam, right up the middle… Davis just passes the 39 where Kimball lowers his shoulder and blows up the Husker, flipping him upside down… The crowd goes wild for the thousandth time that night… It’s high-fives for Kimball, but the Davis return would have been called back anyway… Nebraska was flagged for holding back at their 26…

Nittany Notes:

Penn State’s Best FG Miss—

1968 vs. Army at Beaver Stadium—Penn State is in a battle with the Cadets from West Point which was commonplace… Up to this moment in time, PSU had only beaten Army 4 times since this series began in 1899 and was winless vs. the Cadets in State College (4-10-2 all-time home & away)… Penn State is leading 16-10, but their drive stalls at the Army 21 yard line… Sophomore Rusty Garthwaite (quite likely the earliest player to be listed only as a Placekicker on the PSU roster—specialists were rarities until the 70’s) comes on for the field goal attempt from 28 yards… He’s a straight-ahead kicker and he pops the ball up, it drops at about the 5-yard line, hits one of the Army players, and is recovered by left tackle John Kulka at the Army 2… Two plays later, halfback Bobby Campbell finds the endzone for the touchdown and PSU leads 22-10… For the record, Rusty doesn’t get another chance in this game… The Nittany Lions go for 2 after this TD and again after a later score (and fail on both) squeaking out a 28-24 win…

Penn State’s Best FG Blocked by an Opponent—

1974 at West Virginia—10th ranked Penn State opens the second half driving from its 25 to the WVU 5-yard line where it stalls… A penalty bumps the Lions back to the 10… With about 9:51 to go in the quarter, John Reihner will attempt the 27-yard FG to try to extend the State lead to 11… Two Mountaineers break through the containment and block Reihner’s kick… But the ball takes a funny trip crossing the line of scrimmage and bouncing at about the 3 near the right sideline… WVU’s Jack Eastbrook, uncertain as to whether it was a live ball that he had to recover, commits an error in judgment and attempts to the field the ball somewhere near the goal line… He makes clear contact with it (making it a live ball now) but he cannot hold on… The ball is now loose near the back right of the endzone where there’s pileup of bodies including 3 or 4 Penn Staters… And somehow Ron Coder, who began the play at left guard, recovers the ball and scores the touchdown… Reihner successfully kicks the PAT instead… PSU leads 21-6 and will hang on for the 9-point road win…

West Virginia coach Bobby Bowden famously told the media after the game, “I never blocked a field goal and lost 7 points.”

Note: The 21-12 Penn State win at West Virginia is probably best remembered for the play of the defense led by linebacker Greg Buttle… Greg picked off Mountaineer QB Chuck Fiorante twice (including a difficult leaping one hand grab)… Buttle also delivered a PSU record 24 tackles in this game (later matched by Bill Banks DE in 1977 at NC State)…

BACK TO NUMBERS

>Goalpost Notes:

There had been no endzone prior to the 1912 season and the advent of the modern 100-yard field (formerly 110 yards)… Wooden “H-shaped” goalposts were located on the goal lines in college football until the 1927 season when they were moved to the back line of the endzone (most likely for player safety reasons/reducing potential player collisions on passing plays)… Modern “Gooseneck” or “Sling shot-style” metal goalposts began to replace the H-shaped ones circa 1967-68 (and first appeared at Beaver Stadium as part of a seating/press box expansion project ahead of the 1969 season)…

The width of goalposts (between the uprights) in college football was initially standardized at 18 feet 6 inches and remained at that width through the 1958 season… In 1959 (in an effort to increase scoring by kicking), the then-wooden posts were widened to 23 feet 4 inches (in part, because 24 feet was longest possible length for a cut piece of lumber)… The goalpost width returned to 18 feet 6 inches in 1991 to make kicking more challenging again in response to specialists who had largely assumed the kicking role from on-field players by end of the 1970’s… (Note: the rubber kicking tee used in college to elevate the ball for several decades was outlawed in 1988 also in effort to make kicking FGs more challenging again—the rubber tee concept had replaced early 20th century use of the toe of the holder’s shoe, or a small build-up of dirt similar to sand golf tees seen in use prior to wooden/plastic golf tees)…

Did the re-narrowing of the goalposts in 1991 have any effect?

Well, Craig Fayak, the PSU placekicker from 1990-93 who would end his career as PSU’s all-time leading scorer, was 31 of 32 on PATs & 16 of 23 on FGs in the complete 1990 season (“unofficial” bowl stats: 1 of 2 FGs & 2 for 2 PATs)… In 1991, with the new narrower goalposts in place, Fayak “officially” was 42 of 46 on PATs & 17 of 26 on FGs in the regular season (both his 42 PATs & 17 FGs made were “official” career highs)… Fayak was 6 for 6 in PATs in the 42-17 win vs. Tennessee at the 1992 Fiesta Bowl (then a PSU bowl record), so he was actually 48 of 52 on PATs that season (no FGs were attempted in that bowl)…

Fayak had opened the 1991 season missing 6 of his first 10 FG attempts, and was at one point, 8 of 17 on FGs until connecting on his last 9 attempts of the regular season (including going 4 for 4 in 32-20 win at Pitt)… So, it might have had an impact notably at the start of that first season… For the record, Fayak’s best single-season FG percentage (71.4%) was, in fact, in 1990 (the last season with the wider uprights)… Fayak’s longest career FG also came in the 1990 season (50 yds. in 9-0 win at Alabama on 3 for 4 kicking with one attempt blocked)…