Previewing the 2026 season for Penn State K Ryan Barker

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Penn State football will have a completely overhauled roster to get to know in 2026 under new head coach Matt Campbell. Following one of the most active offseasons in recent memory for Penn State with a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, fans will have a lot of catching up to do in getting to know this year’s Penn State roster. Fortunately, not every face will be brand new to fans. Regardless, we will be here to give you a fresh overview of every player on the roster for the 2026 season with a series of player profiles.

From all of the returning players, a long list of new faces from the transfer portal, and incoming recruits from the Class of 2026, we will have you covered with this year’s player profiles for the Penn State roster. Here is a quick look at kicker Ryan Barker for the 2026 season.

Preseason Player Profile

  • Hometown: Landenberg, Pennsylvania
  • Height: 6-2
  • Weight: 191
  • Class in 2026: Redshirt Junior

Recruiting Rankings

Class of 2023: No recruiting ranking available

Ryan Barker was a walk-on player for Penn State in the Class of 2023 after not having a tremendous amount of recruiting action of note. Barker had no scholarship offers on the table, according to his 247Sports recruiting profile.

Career Stats

Ryan Barker has emerged as a fixture in Penn State’s special teams unit. Barker has played in a combined 27 games over the past two seasons and has converted 33 of 37 field goal attempts (89.2%). Last season, Barker was 18-for-19 (94.7%) with a long field goal of 49 yards. Barker was also 44 of 45 on PAT attempts and is 92-for-94 on PATs the past two seasons.

Barker enters the 2026 season ranked first all-time in Penn State career field goal percentage (88.2) and seventh in career extra point percentage (97.8).

Barker was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention by Big Ten media and Big Ten coaches last season. Barker also received All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media following the 2024 season.

Depth Chart Overview

Ryan Barker will enter the 21026 season firmly in place as Penn State’s primary field goal kicking specialist. Penn State does have other kickers on the roster if needed, however, with James Madison transfer Cristiano Rosa and redshirt freshman Matthew Parker.

Random Fact

Ryan Barker was a star soccer player in high school in addition to being a kicker. Barker earned three letters in soccer in high school.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Previewing the 2026 season for Penn State K Ryan Barker

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