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Welcome to Black Shoe Diaries' coverage of National Signing Day 2016. Our goal is to make sure that you know everything you need to know about every member of Penn State's 2016 recruiting class, including what fans should expect from them, some highlight tape and more. We truly appreciate you taking the time to follow along with our coverage of all things Penn State recruiting-related over the past year, and we can't wait to continue to ramp up our coverage for 2017. So whether you've been reading the site for years, or a first-time reader who just stumbled upon Black Shoe Diaries, we hope you stick around.
To read up on all of the other members of the 2016 recruiting class, simply head back to the main draft board, where recruits will be added as their official letters of intent roll in.
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Alex Barbir is already a fan favorite. No, really. After trolling Quinn Nordin's plane commitment/sleepover decommitment on Twitter post-announcement, Barbir instantly became the fan choice to handle the kicking duties for the Nittany Lions, and may get the chance. He's 5'10" with a mighty right leg that Penn State fans will come to cherish the consistency of.
Our #PSUSigningDay celebrations continue with the addition of @Alex_Barbir to the Nittany Lion pride. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/vOMoJqxW95
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) February 3, 2016
Vitals
Position | Kicker |
High School | South Forsyth (Ga.) |
Height/Weight | 5'10" 195lbs |
247Composite Rank |
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Positional Rank | #9 position, #146 in State |
Commitment Date |
Highlight Tape
Scouting Report
Okay, I know what you're thinking. "No, I don't want to spend the next five minutes and forty-seven seconds watching kicker highlight footage." Okay, fine. Then just watch this video. It's only a few seconds, but it'll sell you instantly. This is Alex Barbir hitting a 56 yard field goal right down the middle with room to spare IN OCTOBER OF HIS JUNIOR YEAR OF GODDAMN HIGH SCHOOL. Barbir consistently kicks off 70+ yards and led the nation in touchback percentage. He will almost certainly take over that duty instantly. He massacres any kick inside of 40 yards like he's angry he's facing such a pathetic challenge, and is a legitimate threat from outside of 50 yards. You're gonna like him.
Outlook
He'll start the season, at the very least, on kickoffs. He would've started over Joey Julius and Tyler Davis as a high school senior, so in his freshman year he should have the job by the end of the season if he doesn't have it opening weekend. Expect lots of big kicks, and for Penn State's field position game to get a whole lot more robust.