As of three weeks ago, Emmaus senior kicking specialist Carson Landis knew where he was going to college. He fully expected to kick for Lafayette College this fall. But a couple of emails and film studies led to another school’s coaching staff reaching out to him and setting up a private work out.

Two weeks leading up to signing day, special teams coordinator Charles Huff flew in from Georgia to watch Landis kick on the Emmaus High School football field at 6 a.m. Huff liked what he saw, and last Monday an offer was extended for a preferred walk-on role to play at Penn State University. Landis jumped on the opportunity.

“They were looking at me as a recruit for about six months, but weren’t seriously considering me until about a week or so before the offer,” said Landis. “Coach [Matt] Senneca knew some of their coaches and reached out to them. The next thing you know I got a message from one of their coaches asking if I could go to the field to workout. When the offer came, I never expected it, but was very grateful for it.”

Landis impressed on a cold day, even having to kick some balls that were deflating because of the conditions.

“All of this happened really last minute,” added Landis. “It was a really hard decision between Lafayette and Penn State. I was more than happy going to Lafayette, but this was an experience I just couldn’t pass up.”

Landis came into Emmaus as a soccer player, but began playing football on the varsity level his sophomore year. He made 35 extra points and one field goal that year.

His junior season was when he really started to become a consistent kicker, with the range to boot. In 2015, he hit 47 extra points, and four field goals.

This past season, Landis connected on 51 of 54 extra points, 9 of 12 field goals (four from 41-48 yards), and had 36 touchbacks while kicking off. As a punter, he had an average of 35 yards per punt for the 9-1 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference champion Green Hornets.

“It was a great way to go out as a senior class,” said Landis. “Being able to win the conference for Emmaus for the first time in a while was really special.”

Landis was named to the EPC First-Team as a placekicker and punter, voted to the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 6A All-State team as a specialist, and a Pennsylvania Football News All-State kicker. He also holds school records for field goals in a season (9), longest field goal (48 yards), and extra points in a game (11).

Landis is also on the volleyball team and will finish his final season as an Emmaus student-athlete beginning next month.

He will head to University Park this summer to join a Nittany Lions team fresh off a Big Ten championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

“I never thought I’d be able to play for such a big team,” Landis stated. “Look at the season they had this year, and how well they played. I feel blessed to have this opportunity.”