Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State looking at several potential return men

Published Aug. 12, 2015 5:42 p.m. ET

Marcus Hartman

Penn State football welcomes back Grant Haley, a cornerback by trade who handled the bulk of kickoff returns last season, but special teams coordinator Charles Huff told reporters in Happy Valley on the team's media day he will take a look at multiple players to fill that role as well as the job of returning punts.

"We've got a good thing at kick returner because we have options," Huff said. "Grant Haley is still here. We've got some young guys. DeAndre Thompkins redshirted last year. Nick Scott has done it in high school. Koa Farmer has done it in high school. A lot of our options last year were redshirted."

Haley handled 32 of the Nittany Lions' 35 kickoff returns last year and averaged 20.6 yards per attempt.

As for punts, that was primary a role filled by Jesse Della Valle, who is out of eligibility. He had 17 of the team's 19 punt returns and averaged 7.6 yards per attempt with a long of 41.

"This year it's a good group back there and a lot of guys that have done it in high school have obviously done it and have done it successfully," Huff said. "You look at some of their high school films, and that was a big part of their film, returning kicks and making explosive plays on special teams, but now some of those guys who are not redshirted are going to give us a chance to kind of move forward."