Tim Aydin

1 month ago | blackshoediaries.com | Tim Aydin

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images The year was 2018. With Penn State maintaining a 6-0 lead over Ohio State midway through the second quarter and facing a 3rd and 5 inside their own 10-yard line, Trace McSorley dropped back to pass and fired a slant over the middle to what was swiftly becoming his go-to target in KJ Hamler. Hamler immediately turned on the afterburners, taking a simple slant pass 93 yards to the end zone and the game’s first touchdown of the night.

1 month ago | sports.yahoo.com | Tim Aydin

The year was 2018. With Penn State maintaining a 6-0 lead over Ohio State midway through the second quarter and facing a 3rd and 5 inside their own 10-yard line, Trace McSorley dropped back to pass and fired a slant over the middle to what was swiftly becoming his go-to target in KJ Hamler. Hamler immediately turned on the afterburners, taking a simple slant pass 93 yards to the end zone and the game’s first touchdown of the night.

1 month ago | blackshoediaries.com | Tim Aydin

Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images We’re sticking with the special teams once again, as we honor Ryan Barker. Barker took over the starting placekicking duties about a month into the 2024 season, notching his first start against UCLA, where he nailed both field goal attempts and all three extra points. This was followed up by his most memorable performance (thus far), where he nailed all four field goal attempts, including the game-winner in overtime against USC.

1 month ago | blackshoediaries.com | Tim Aydin

Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images We’re back to honoring current players on the roster, as we pay homage to our favorite Australian punter in Riley Thompson. In his entire collegiate career, including his time at Florida Atlantic, where he spent his first year before transferring to Penn State, Thompson has put 60 punts inside an opponent’s red zone, including 20 of them inside an opponent’s 10-yard line.

1 month ago | blackshoediaries.com | Tim Aydin

Once again, with no current Penn State player rocking a corresponding jersey number, we’re jumping back into the time machine to 1994 and the 96-yard go-ahead touchdown drive to cap off an incredible comeback after falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter, but ultimately eking out a 35-31 win to clinch the Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl appearance.