Specialist Jordan Wombacker (Hickory High School/Hermitage, Pa.) announced yesterday that he will walk on at Penn State this upcoming season, where he will join the open competition to replace Sam Ficken, who’s departed for the NFL.

Proud to say I’ll be continuing my education and football career at Penn State!! #WeAre #PSU pic.twitter.com/EnzlRdf6oy

— Jordan Wombacker (@JWombacker29) March 4, 2015

Wombacker brings with him an impressive resume, which includes second team Class AA punting and first team All-District 10 kicking honors. Wombacker hit eight field goals during his senior season, including a long of 44 yards, and flashed some strength on kickoffs, where he converted 62 percent into touchbacks. There some uncertainty surrounding the position of kicker heading into next season, but sophomore Joe Julius is the early front-runner. Still, it’s encouraging to see another steady leg being added to the mix — especially a player who can kick and punt.

“The reason I choose Penn State was the world class education and the opportunity of a lifetime to play Division I football, which has always been a dream of mine since I was a child,” Wombacker told Lions247’s Sean Fitz. “The coaching staff also played a big role in my decision as they stressed a family-oriented atmosphere going along with hard work and winning football games.”

Kicker is another position to keep an eye on as spring ball approaches, and considering how important a consistent kicker is to a team –looking at you, Boston College — this competition could turn out to be one of the most important positional battles heading into next season. Welcome to the family, Jordan!