Position battles too close to call on special teams

As the final week of fall camp wraps up, special teams coordinator Joe DeForest isn’t ready to name a starter on most of his specialist positions.

For the record that isn’t a bad thing, it is actually good.

“When I first got here you had Matt Wyman and that was it,” DeForest said. “And he was a kickoff guy not a field goal kicker. Now we have two punters, two kickers, two snappers and good competition all around.”

Right now the competition for the place-kicking job is too close to call. Gabe Rui is returning from last year and a right-footed kicker. Also in the mix is true freshman Liam Jone, a left-footed, true freshman. Both have kicked will in fall camp.

“They are neck and neck and I’m not sure who is going to win the battle,” DeForest said. “They’re both hitting just under 80% of all of their kicks in camp. Rui has changed his body and his approach. With Liam we did some things with his footwork the earlier in the week and he is crushing it now. I think that’s going to help him. It is a healthy competition.”

Like the place-kicking duties there are two players fighting for the punting job. Returning starter Cole Moos is competing with Kyle Thompson. Last year Thompson redshirted but has a strong leg and at 6-foot-4 gets good extension on his punts.

“Cole is more consistent but when Kyle hits it, it goes,” DeForest said. “He was hitting 60-yarders consistent the other day. I have to be able to trust Kyle that he will be able to receive the snap and not get nervous in a game situation. Kyle is kicking off well too.”

DeForest said Thompson and Jones are also competing to win the kick-off job.

The main players doing punt return in practice are Steven Sims, Daylon Charlot, Kerr Johnson, and Ryan Schadler. DeForest said they are still trying to narrow down the players at kick return.

“We have to get better on kick return,” he said. “The timing has been off and I have to work on that some. Our punt returners with coach Beaty he has been doing a great job with them before, after, and during practice. We have more guys to choose from there as well.”

Overall DeForest is in much better shape putting together his special teams in large part having a bigger pool of players. One of those reasons is due to the increase in players on the roster since he arrived.

“The team has a bigger roster and there are more to choose from,” DeForest said. “If you are a starting skill guy on offense and defense you have to start on one of the big four on special teams. I will ask some guys which one do you want to start on. I have asked Joe (Dineen) and (Keith) Loneker and they want to start on our punt team. It’s the most important unit there is. That unit has played well this camp. I am more impressed with that unit than any other.”