PSU’s Stout to keep kicking
Stout named Big Ten special teams player of the week despite missed kicks
Jordan Stout handled all of the placekicking duties in Penn State’s win over Wisconsin and will continue to do so because he outperformed Jake Pinegar during preseason camp, coach James Franklin said Tuesday.
“It really came down to camp,” Franklin said. “We track literally every kick, the consistency, the accuracy, the snap, the hold, the location. We track it all.
“Based on all the numbers in training camp, he won the job.”
Stout was named the Big Ten special teams player of the week despite missing a 23-yard field goal and an extra point in the 16-10 victory. He averaged 53.9 yards on seven punts, including a 76-yarder, and sent all of four of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
After Stout missed the PAT, the Badgers drove to the Penn State 1-yard line in the final minutes with a chance to take the lead before a poor exchange on a handoff pushed them back to the 7. Jaquan Brisker intercepted a fourth-down pass at the 2 to help seal it.
“No matter what happens at the end of a play you move on to the next one and do it again,” Franklin said, “both mentally, physically and emotionally. I thought Jordan did a great job of that.”
Special teams coordinator Joe Lorig said at the start of training camp that Stout would handle field goal tries of 40 yards or longer and that Pinegar would handle all the kicks that were closer, including PATs, like he did the last two seasons.
Pinegar made 27-of-32 field goal attempts from inside 40 yards the last three seasons and 136-of-141 PAT tries.
“I think Jake Pinegar still has a tremendous future,” Franklin
said. “We’re going to need him at some point this year as well.”
PLANS AT GUARD >> Harvard transfer Eric Wilson made a bid to become Penn State’s regular left guard with his performance at Wisconsin.
Wilson replaced Anthony Whigan in the second half and helped the Lions roll up 254 total yards.
“We thought Eric played well,” Franklin said. “We thought Whigan did some good things, too. We’ll decide this week based on last week’s game and what we do this week to determine who will start Saturday.”
ARGUING INTERFERENCE CALL >> Florida State transfer A.J. Lytton was flagged twice for interfering with Wisconsin punt returner Dean Engram on Saturday.
Television replays showed that Lytton twice made contact an instant before Engram fielded the punts. The second penalty was offset by a block in the back penalty on the Badgers.
“I thought it was a bangbang play,” Franklin said. “We’re not upset with A.J. We teach them once the hands (of the returner) go up, we want them to shoot. A.J. did it exactly how we coached him to do it.
“A returner should never be hit before the ball gets there. I thought it was catch-hit, which I think is football. If he lets him catch it and the guy goes for 80, then we’re screaming at the kid that he didn’t do his job. It’s a fine line.”
NOT ON TRIP >> Running back John Lovett, defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon and safety Keaton Ellis did not travel to Wisconsin with Penn State, along with others.
All three of them were expected to be regulars for the Lions this season.
“They were not available last week,” Franklin said. “That (their status for Saturday’s home opener against Ball State) will be determined this week.”