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A Penn State specialist will wear a new number during the 2025 season

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel08/27/25GregPickel
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Penn State Nittany Lions punter Riley Thompson speaks to the media after the team arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Ragsdale Executive Terminal, on Dec. 28, 2024.(© Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Penn State punter Riley Thompson will wear a new number in 2025. As previously reported by BWI’s Sean Fitz on The Lions Pride message board, the third-year Nittany Lion has been wearing No. 14 in practice this summer after wearing No. 95 during his first two seasons in State College. The team’s latest roster, which was posted in its game notes for Nevada on Monday night, confirms the change.

An Australian native, Thompson came to Penn State from Florida Atlantic in 2023. His average of 44.2 yards per punt ranks third all-time in Lions lore. He also has 60 career punts that have landed inside of the opponent’s 20- or 10-yard line. The senior aims to return to his 2023 form. Back then, he was a unanimous All-Big Ten honorable mention selection.

Penn State hopes for more out of its special teams in 2025

Thompson is one of many returners on special teams this fall. He is also the team’s holder for placement kicks. Ryan Barker is back to take those for a second consecutive season. Long snapper Tyler Duzansky returns, as well. And Gabe Nwosu, who is pushing Thompson at punter, is also back to handle kickoff duties.

One area where there could be some new faces for coordinator Justin Lustig is at kick and punt returner.

“At kick return, we’ll rotate [Nicholas] Singleton and King Mack,” head coach James Franklin said Tuesday. “We’ll rotate those two guys.

“At punt returner, we’ve got a number of guys that we feel good about. Obviously, Zion [Tracy], Trebor Pena, and Devonte Ross, those three guys. See how that goes. But I see all those guys getting touches and opportunities.”

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Penn State is hopeful the mix of old and new can equal more game-changing plays in 2025.

“I think we’re in a position now in year two, where not only could we not lose games on special teams, but we got a chance to win a few more games because of special teams, or have a wider margin of wins because of special teams,” Franklin said at Big Ten Media Days “I think we got a chance to use special teams and our talents and our structure to make that a differentiator for us this year.”

Penn State opens the 2025 season against Nevada this Saturday. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET. CBS will televise the game. Its top crew of Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, and Jenny Dell will be on the call.