Ex-PSU Starting Kicker Bypassed on Travel Roster

LOS ANGELES — Penn State kicker Sander Sahaydak lost his starting job for last Saturday’s game against UCLA, and now he has apparently fallen farther down the depth chart.

Sahaydak, a redshirt junior who handled the kicking duties in each of Penn State’s first four games this season, went 17 of 17 on extra points but just two for five on field goals over the opening four weeks. 

Last week against UCLA, Sahaydak was replaced by redshirt freshman Ryan Barker. A Landenberg, Pa., native, Barker made all five extra points and both field goal attempts in the win over the Bruins.

For this Saturday’s game at USC, Sahaydak did not even travel to Los Angeles with the team. Instead, junior kicker Chase Meyer traveled as the second kicker, according to the team’s travel roster. Meyer is a Los Angeles native. He transferred to Penn State ahead of this season after previously kicking at Penn and Tulsa.

Punter Gabriel Nwosu has primarily handled Penn State’s kickoff duties, regardless of who the placekicker has been.

Several true freshmen who have yet to break their redshirts are also traveling with the Lions, including cornerback Antonie Belgrave-Shorter, offensive lineman Eagan Boyer, wide receiver Tyler Denmark, defensive tackle Xavier Gillam, defensive end Max Granville, quarterback Ethan Grunkenmeyer, defensive end Jaylen Harvey, running back Quinton Martin, cornerback Jon Mitchell, linebacker Anthony Speca and safety Vaboue Toure.