Penn State's Ryan Barker on walk-off, OT field goal at USC: “Truly a dream come true”

LOS ANGELES – When USC's Michael Lantz – who had gone 3-for-3 on field goals in regulation – missed a 45-yard attempt in overtime, Penn State kicker Ryan Barker quickly realized he could be in for an exciting game.

“I was even more trapped than I already was,” he said. “I knew it might come down to me. I just had to make sure I was mentally prepared.”

He stepped into the practice net on the sideline a few times, making sure his leg was loose before standing next to his teammates and coaches to watch what was unfolding before he got his chance. At the time, he envisioned himself jogging onto the field and hitting the ball through the uprights, a technique he learned from James Franklin and special teams coordinator Justin Lustig.

The Nittany Lions offense kept the ball on the ground and gave Barker a chance from the middle of the field, 36 yards out. Barker – in just his second collegiate start – jogged onto the field and scored the game-winning field goal, sinking it just inside the left post. He also survived a USC timeout.

“It really is a dream come true. “I mean, ever since I got here, all I wanted to do was score a game-winning field goal,” Barker said after a 33-30 overtime win. With surprising calm in his voice, he added that it was the first walk-off field goal he had scored in his football career. “It means the world to me and my teammates.”

The redshirt freshman walk-on from Landenberg, Pennsylvania, placed his hands clasped on the side of his helmet in the classic “goodnight” celebration, displaying a confidence more akin to that of a 10-year NFL veteran than that of a college senior -Second year students. Then teammates caught up with him and cheered Barker loudly. Punter/owner Riley Thompson and long snapper Tyler Duzansky were the first to greet him.

As others joined in, they urged him to run toward a sea of ​​Penn State fans in the corner of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. He waved his hands wildly during a sprint of about 80 yards, cheering on the Nittany Lion faithful to celebrate one of the biggest and most exciting victories of the Franklin era at Penn State.

Franklin paused in the middle of his immediate on-site interview with CBS to hug Barker tightly and say, “So proud of you, man.” Are you kidding me? Huh? (Expletive) great.” Barker then answered a question in front of a national television audience.

It was all part of a moment that Barker never could have imagined before enrolling at Happy Valley.

“I would have said, 'You're absolutely crazy.' It’s crazy to even be here, having the chance to start is another thing,” Barker said. “Being able to perform the way I did is even more important.”

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Penn State planned to stay conservative after USC's miss in overtime, hoping it would pull away for a touchdown but with the goal of avoiding disaster and Barker, who said he wasn't nervous, one to give chance. Quarterback Drew Allar held the ball on a read option to put it up the middle where Lustig requested.

Defending champion Thompson checked in with Barker, as he usually does, to make sure he was mentally OK and to let him know he could make the kick. “That little reassurance is everything,” Barker said. Other than that, teammates and coaches let Barker do the work, confident he was ready for the moment.

In his postgame press conference, Franklin placed his arm parallel to the table in front of him while discussing Barker, showing the even-tempered nature of his demeanor. Franklin's kicker went 4-for-4 with kicks of 20, 33, 34 and 36 yards.

“Just calm down, Eddie. Doesn't get too high. Don’t get too low,” Franklin said. “He was really like that as a freshman.”

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USC called a timeout to put Barker on ice after he lined up his kick. “From then on I knew it would be a good result.” Then the kick went through, just as he always expected.

“It’s exactly what I imagined as a kid whenever I thought about it,” Barker said. “It was just a great feeling to be able to do it.”

Barker lost the starting job to Sander Sahaydak at the start of the season. But after Sahaydak missed two field goals against Illinois, Frankin chose Barker against UCLA.

Kennett High School's first-ever Division I football player went 2-2 against the Bruins and delivered a standout moment that will stand the test of time for both him and undefeated Penn State.

“Since I've been here, all I've worried about is myself, being the best kicker I can be and working my ass off to be in the position I am now,” said Barker. “And whenever the time comes, just make sure I'm ready for it.”

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