Jan. 28, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
After setting the Penn State record for season field goals made, placekicker Sam Ficken (Valparaiso, Ind.) was been selected to participate in the 17th annual Quicken Loans All-Star Football Challenge. The competition will air on Friday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Ficken was among just 15 players selected to participate in the All-Star Football Challenge. Ameer Abdullah (Nebraska), Shane Carden (East Carolina), Landon Collins (Alabama), Sean Mannion (Oregon State) and Trae Waynes (Michigan State) are among the other participants. Ficken is competing in the Speed Kick competition at the event, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Other competitions include the Quarterback Accuracy Competition, Hands Competition, Lineman Strength Challenge and Obstacle Course.
Elected as a co-captain in 2015, Ficken was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2014. He was also named to the Associated Press and SI.com All-Bowl Teams after connecting on a 45-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl to tie the game, 24-24, and then sparked the celebration as he converted his fourth extra point of the night to give Penn State the 31-30 victory.
The senior broke the Penn State single-season field goal record with 24 makes in 2014, surpassing the previous mark set by Matt Bahr (1978) and Kevin Kelly (2006). He finished his career ranked second in school history with 54 career field goals made and fourth on the career scoring list with 264 points.
One of two semifinalists from the Big Ten for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-kicker Award, Ficken was selected Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week twice in 2014 and four times in his career. A finance major with a 3.59 grade-point average, Ficken is on schedule to graduate in May.
Ficken led team in scoring for third consecutive year with 100 points, becoming the first players since Kevin Kelly in 2008 to break the 100-point mark. He was 24 of 29 (82.8) on field goals this season to rank third the Big Ten and 20th nationally in field goal percentage. His 1.85 field goals made per game topped the conference rankings and finished No. 4 in the FBS, while he ended the year fifth in the Big Ten in kick scoring (7.8 ppg). He was also eighth in the Big Ten and 48th nationally in overall scoring.
Penn State football will host "The Signature Event," on Wednesday, Feb. 4, giving fans an opportunity to learn more about the Nittany Lions' Class of 2015. Fans are invited to attend this free event in Rec Hall and hear from head coach James Franklin, as he discusses each signee on National Letter of Intent Day. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for general admission, first-come, first-served seating, with the program starting at 7 p.m. Parking is available in Lot Red A after 5 p.m. and the Nittany Parking Deck at the normal rate.
The Nittany Lions capped the 2014 season with a 31-30 overtime win over Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Penn State and Wisconsin are the only Big Ten teams to earn at least 10 consecutive winning seasons. Franklin is among just three Penn State head coaches to win at least seven games in his first season in Happy Valley in the program's 128 years.
Penn State returns 15 starters (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist), and 14 additional players who have started, for the 2015 season. The Blue-White Game is April 18 in Beaver Stadium and the season opener is Sept. 5 at Temple.
Penn State season ticket renewals are underway for the 2015 campaign, with a deadline of February 1. There will not be any increase in the price of Penn State football season tickets or Nittany Lion Club donation levels for next season. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2015 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays, 10 a.m-6 p.m.
Penn State Football is on Twitter (@PennStateFball) and Facebook.