Every year the countdown to the college football season includes countless columns predicting the best offenses and defenses from across the country. It seems like every year the special teams are overlooked until something crazy happens that thrusts those units in to the spotlight A year ago, it was the Penn State special teams shocking Ohio State with a touchdown return on a blocked field goal attempt. That one play helped push the Nittany Lions past the Buckeyes en route to a Big Ten title. Which programs have the best special teams groups in the country heading in to the 2017 season? Here is a look at the best special teams units in college football.
Kansas State Wildcats
Bill Snyder’s son Sean has consistently produced some of the best special teams units in the country over the past couple of years. That should be the case again in 2017. Kicker Matthew McCrane is back after hitting 36 of his 40 field goal attempts last season. Punter Nick Walsh had a net average of nearly 40 yards a year ago. Meanwhile, Byron Pringle averaged 28.7 yards per turn on kickoffs while Dominique Heath averaged 12.9 yards per punt return. The Wildcats will field dominant special teams units once again in 2017.
Florida Gators
Eddy Pineiro helped revive the Gators special teams last year when he hit 21 of his 25 field goal attempts. Pineiro has hit from 65 yards in practice so he could get even more opportunities this season. Punter Johnny Townsend had a net average of 40.6 yards per attempt in 2016 so as long as he continues to perform at a high level the kicking units should be solid. Antonio Callaway averaged 15.5 yards per punt return and 32.3 yards per kick return last season. He has the potential to be one of the best return men in the country this coming season.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The Hilltoppers had the top-ranked special teams in the country a year ago but they lost their coach in Tony Levine, who left for Purdue. Western Kentucky returns most of its key pieces including punter Jake Collins and his net average of 37.3 yards. Kicker Skyler Simcox hit 16 of 22 attempts last season but he did hit a long of 52 yards and has the potential to be even more consistent this season. Kylen Towner was excellent on punts last year with an average of 40.3 yards per return. The Hilltoppers would like to see an encore performance from him this season.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols special teams took a step back last season but remained one of the better units in the country. A return to form with many of their key players back should vault them back in to a top-five unit. Kicker Aaron Medley has hit 52 of his 73-career field goal attempts and should be even more consistent this season. Meanwhile, punter Trevor Daniel had a net average of 39.8 in 2016 and will be back. The key to the Tennessee special teams units might very well be return man Evan Berry. Berry averaged 32.9 yards on kick returns last season and has the potential to be one of the best return men in the country this season.
Texas A&M Aggies
Some are down on the Aggies after they lost their top return man in Justin Evans. However, Christian Kirk averaged 21.7 yards on punt returns and 28.8 yards on kick returns last season so they should be just fine in that department. Punter Shane Tripucka averaged a solid 41.6 yards per punt last season. Kicker Daniel LaCamera will be the key after he hit 17 of his 24 field goal attempts last season. Consistency will be important and the Aggies need to be able to rely on LaCamera in clutch situations in 2017.
The Aggies finished the 2016 season just 8-5. At one point, they were considered one of the top teams in the nation – during their 6-0 start – but they faded considerably down the stretch. They ended up losing five of their final seven games. That makes this somewhat of a make or break season for head coach Kevin Sumlin. If the Aggies slump out of the gates, he could find himself on the hot seat very quickly.
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