2024 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON
Awards: Weekly: Earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors (USC - 10/12)...Was named a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week (USC - 10/12).
Season: Has appeared in eight games, including six as Penn State's starting field goal kicker...Is 8-for-9 on field goals, with a long of 44, and 25-for-25 on extra points...Named the coaching staff's Special Teams Player of the Game twice (UCLA - 10/5; USC - 10/12).
Kent State (9/21): Had a 61-yard kickoff and converted an extra-point attempt. Illinois (9/28): Converted on an extra-point. UCLA (10/5): Was 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points...Hit a career-long 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to go along with a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter. at USC (10/12): Made a game-winning 36-yard field goal in overtime...Also converted a 34-yard field goal on Penn State’s opening drive, a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter...Went 3-for 3 on extra-point attempts. at Wisconsin (10/26): Converted all four extra-point attempts. Ohio State (10/2): Hit a 29-yard field goal on Penn State’s opening drive and followed that up with a career-long 44-yard field goal in the third quarter...Converted on his lone extra-point attempt. Washington (11/9): Converted five extra-point attempts. at Purdue (11/16): Made all seven of his extra-point attempts.
2023 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON
Redshirt season.
HIGH SCHOOL
Was a four-year letterwinner for head coach Lance Frazier at Kennett High School...Squad posted a combined 30-8 record during his four years...Kennett won its first ever Chesmont Division title his senior season in 2022...Eared first-team all-state, all-area and all-conference honors his senior season as a kicker and punter...Picked up an invitation to the Blue-Grey All-American Game and also participated in the Valor Bowl...Was Kennett's Special Teams MVP twice...Tallied 51 points as a senior, connecting on six field goals, including a school-record 45-yarder, while also averaging 41.4 yards per punt and hitting 45 of his 51 kickoff attempts for touchbacks....Made 5-of-6 field goal attempts as a junior and 2-of-2 as a sophomore...Totaled 53 points as a freshman, making 6-of-8 field goal attempts...Is the first ever Division I football player out of Kennett...Also earned three letters in soccer...Earned honor roll every year of high school.
PERSONAL
Full name is Ryan Christopher Barker...Son of Chris and Sally Barker...Has a brother, Shay...Has volunteered at youth football camps and coached middle school basketball...Participated in Best Buddies, teaching children with disabilities the sport of soccer...Enjoys collecting shoes as a hobby...Plans on majoring in finance at Penn State...After pursuing a career in NFL, would like to enter the business workforce.