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Penn State ST coordinator says Jake Pinegar suffered back injury over the summer
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During his three seasons at Penn State, kicker Jake Pinegar handled the Nittany Lions short-ranged kicks with near perfection. But since the season opener with Wisconsin, Jordan Stout, the Nittany Lions typical long-range leg, has been handling the extra points.
On Thursday, we found out why.
Jake Pinegar was injured in the summer & part of camp with a back injury, Joe Lorig said. Helps explain how the kicking situation has played out.
"He's got a couple years of eligibility left. I think we're gonna see some good things out of him," Lorig said.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) October 21, 2021
Penn State special teams coordinator Joe Lorig revealed that Pinegar suffered a back injury during the summer. The injury resulted in Stout’s handling of the kicking duties from all distances.
Lorig said that Pinegar’s back injury over the summer had carried into camp. Stout competed with Pinegar for the chance to be the team’s primary kicker from all distances, including extra points, and won the job. Lorig also indicated that Pinegar is healthy now, and with his remaining eligibility he will be back.
The results have been good, as Stout has hit 33 of 35 kickoffs for touchbacks this season — none of those kicks have been returned.
Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.