For the last two years, Penn State football has had a preseason battle for a few key positions on the special teams depth chart.

This year, James Franklin and first-year special teams coordinator Justin Lustig are tasked with sorting the room’s talent into a starting lineup. Based on what’s been said during preseason camp, let’s take a look at what the special teams room might look like this season.

Placekicker

Starter: Chase Meyer

Reserves: Sander Sahaydak, Ryan Barker

A junior transfer from Tulsa, Chase Meyer should take the starting spot when the Nittany Lions take the field this Saturday in Morgantown. Meyer has been locked in a battle with redshirt junior Sander Sahaydak. Sahaydak won the starting job at the end of camp last year but was replaced by Alex Felkins, who graduated at the end of the 2023 campaign. Redshirt freshman Ryan Barker has also been mentioned by Lustig as someone who’s been working their way into the competition.

Meyer was the primary placekicker last year at Tulsa, where he converted 17 of 20 attempts with a long of 47 yards. Sahaydak never earned the starting job back last year, but still appeared in seven games. In his only start, the kicker missed two field goals before being replaced with Felkins.

Punter

Starter: Riley Thompson

Reserves: Gabriel Nwosu

Riley Thompson is a returning starter from last year and was recently given a two-year eligibility extension by the NCAA. During the 2023 season, Thompson punted 50 times for an average of 45.8 yards and a long of 56. Gabriel Nwosu was the primary kickoff specialist last year but punted twice during the 2022 season.

Kickoff Specialist

Starter: Gabriel Nwosu

Reserves: Sander Sahaydak, Ryan Barker

Nwosu has handled the kickoff duties for the past two seasons and will most likely retain the spot for the upcoming campaign. Last year, Nwosu kicked off 76 times for 50 touchbacks. Along with Nwosu, Barker and Sahaydak could also see some action at the kickoff spot.

Kick Return

Starter: Nick Singleton

Reserves: Kaytron Allen, Kaden Saunders, Quinton Martin Jr.

Nick Singleton primarily handled the kick returns last year, and will most likely get the nod for this year as well. During the 2023 season, Singleton returned 13 kicks for an average of 25 yards per return.

Punt Return

Starter: Kaden Saunders

Reserves: Quinton Martin Jr., Anthony Ivey, Josiah Brown, Tyseer Denmark

Kaden Saunders was given the nod for the punt return spot by Franklin earlier in the offseason, Franklin said on Monday that the wide receiver was dealing with some “bumps and bruises” that he hopes will be worked out by the season opener.

Despite the uncertainty, Saunders should be the punt returner on Saturday if he’s healthy. Saunders was the primary punt returner last year until Daequan Hardy took over the job in the second half of the season. During the 2023 season, Saunders returned 13 punts for 88 yards.

At the team’s media day in August, Lustig said Martin Jr., Anthony Ivey, Josiah Brown, and Tyseer Denmark were all in the mix for the backup spot.