Ficken Signed by Jaguars

Former Penn State kicker Sam Ficken has been signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars to compete for the kicking job on the team. The oppurtunity is well over due and very deserving for Ficken.

Ficken, 23, graduated from Penn State in 2015 after being the starting kicker for the Nittany Lions for three seasons. He then went undrafted and tried out for the Kanas City Chiefs, but was never signed.  Ficken, in my opinion, was the face of the post Paterno era and was a shining star during a very dark time for the Penn State program.

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Ficken’s debut for Penn State back in 2012 did not go well as he missed four field goals, including one at the end of regulation to win the game in a one point loss to Virginia. Ficken then finished the year hitting 10 straight field goals to finish the season, including the game winner in overtime against Wisconsin on an emotional senior day.

In 2013, the kicker built off his late season sucess the year prior by making his first five in 2013 to break the Penn State record for most consecutive field goals made at 15. Ficken went 41/42 on extra points in 2013 while going 15/23 on field goals.

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In his senior season, Sam was almost automatic hitting 83% of his field goal attempts (24/29) while hitting a game winner in the season opener against UCF in Dublin, Ireland. Ficken’s amazing season, and career, was capped off in the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium. In regulation, Ficken hit a 44 yarder to send the game to overtime. In overtime, after Boston College’s kicker missed the PAT after their touchdown, Ficken hit the game winning PAT after Hackenberg and company punched it in. Ficken, ended his career like Yankee great Derek Jeter who hit a walk off on the same field to end his legendary career. To make it even better, Ficken was given Jeter’s locker for the game. Ficken was second team all Big Ten in 2014 to cap off his remarkable season.

Sam and the Jags agreed to the deal yesterday according to both parties’ Twitter accounts.

Sam will always been known as one of the greatest players and persons to ever wear the Blue and White for all he did to overcome his own short comings, and those of the team, to become succesful and win, when many doubted both him and his team.

Congrats Sam, you earned this, take advantage of your oppurtunity, like you did four years ago as a college sophomore, and win this job and win games. We Are proud.