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Following is a preseason series on Penn State's position groups and a key player to watch from each:
POSITION: Special teams
Player to watch: Ryan Barker (No. 94)
Class: Redshirt junior
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 191 pounds
Career to this point: Now a redshirt junior, Barker currently ranks first all-time at Penn State in field goal percentage (89.2 percent). His career-long is 49 yards, which was made in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Quotable: "I make it a goal every time I step on the field that I'm going to build more trust with my teammates. To see that actually paying off in the long run, it's not only a credit to myself but a credit to the team. They not only make sure I'm the same person every week, but they also keep me going."
— Barker
FYI: The left-footed placekicker, who was also a soccer player in high school, was named an honorable mention selection in the Big Ten last year.
Others in the mix: There are two other kickers on the roster, but Barker is the clear favorite. Blaise Sokach-Minnick (No. 35) will be the team's long snapper, while there is a battle for the punting job between sophomore Mississippi State transfer Nathan Tiyce (No. 38) and true freshman Lucas Tenbrock (No. 96).