Stunningly, 859 days, 35 games, 105 extra points, 52 field goals, and three game-winning kicks since that fateful four-missed field goal game, Ficken is poised to do the unthinkable and join the professional ranks following a roller coaster of a career at Penn State.
A handful of Penn State football players will begin training for the NFL Scouting Combine with the hopes of landing a spot on an NFL roster. Let's take a look at where this year's group could end up at the next level.
Redshirt junior defensive end Deion Barnes will play in the 2015 Senior Bowl, joining fellow Nittany Lions Adrian Amos, Mike Hull, and Donovan Smith for the postseason college football all-star game in Mobile, Alabama on Jan. 24.
After record-setting performances in the Pinstripe Bowl, Christian Hackenberg and Anthony Zettel were named to BTN.com's all-conference bowl team. The Big Ten went 6-5 in postseason play.
The 2014 fall semester was a record-setting one for the Penn State football team as 51 players -- including 21 true freshmen -- earned GPAs of 3.0 or higher, while 25 players were named to the Dean's List. In total, 57 players recorded cumulative GPAs of at least 3.0, a new program record.
The first ever matchup between Penn State and Virginia Tech on the football field will be held two years earlier than originally planned, moving up to 2020 from 2022.