Anthony Fera Class: Senior Hometown: Cypress, Texas High School: St. Pius X Height / Weight: 6-2 / 220 Position: P/PK Experience: JR H.S. Coach: Robin Kirk

A highly-recruited kicker from Texas, Anthony Fera won the punting job and had a strong debut season as a Nittany Lion. He punted and handled kickoff duties in the first 10 games before an emergency appendectomy cut short his regular-season. Fera averaged 41.4 yards on his 46 punts and was selected a 2010 second-team Rivals.com Freshman All-American. His strong debut season helped earn him a spot on the Phil Steele's College Football Preview 2011 preseason All-Big Ten third-team. Possessing a strong leg and the ability to consistently drop punts inside the opposition's 20-yard line, Fera had just one touchback to highlight his first year of punting duties. He launched a 74-yard punt at Iowa, the fourth-longest in Penn State history. With the graduation of placekicker Collin Wagner, Fera also could be a candidate for kicking duties, in addition to battling Alex Butterworth for the punting assignment. Fera joins Frank Figueroa and D'Anton Lynn as returning Nittany Lions hailing from Texas.

2010 Sophomore Season
Fera won the punting duties in preseason and was selected a 2010 second-team Rivals.com Freshman All-American. Fera punted during the first 10 games, including handling kickoff duties, but on Nov. 17 had an emergency appendectomy. He missed the last two regular-season games, with Indiana and Michigan State, but returned against Florida in the Outback Bowl. Among Fera's 46 punts, 13 landed inside the 20-yard line, 19 were fair catches, and nine were booted 50 yards or more. For the season, Fera averaged 41.4 yards, with only one touchback. In the fourth quarter at Iowa, he launched a 74-yard punt, the fourth-longest punt in Penn State history, and the team's longest since 2004. Fera averaged 44 yards on six punts against Illinois, including a boot of 53 yards, which the Illinois returner fumbled at the nine-yard line. A sliding Michael Zordich recovered the fumble, which set up a field goal. Fera averaged just over 45 yards per punt at Minnesota, including a 61-yard blast. Four of his six punts against the Golden Gophers were downed inside the 20-yard line. Fera knocked two punts inside the 20 against Northwestern, including one that landed at the Wildcats' seven-yard line in the fourth quarter to assist the Lions' historic comeback. At Ohio State, he averaged 44.2 yards on six punts, with a long of 54 yards and one punt downed at the Ohio State 4. Fera missed the Indiana and Michigan State games due to an emergency appendectomy three days before the contest with the Hoosiers. He returned against Florida in the Outback Bowl, punting three times for a 38.7-yard average with a long of 52 yards.

2009 Freshman Season
Redshirt season.

High School
Fera was one of the nation's top prep placekickers for Coach Robin Kirk at St. Pius X HS. He was selected a 2008 Under Armour All-American and earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior. Fera was rated Scout.com's and Rivals.com's No. 2 kicker in the nation. During his senior season, he was 37-of-39 on PAT attempts and 8-of-9 on field goals, with a long of 58 yards. In 2008, 55 of his 60 kickoffs went for touchbacks. Fera also averaged 44.1 yards on 36 punts.

Personal
Full named is Anthony Michael Fera. He is the son of Donna and Tony Fera. He has two older sisters, Deanna and Melissa. His father played football and wrestled at Widener University. An uncle and three aunts attended Penn State. Fera's hobbies include working out, hunting and watching movies. Fera is a kinesiology major. Born June 18, 1991 in Philadelphia, Pa.