Countdown to Camp: Special Teams

Eddy Piniero (15) and punter/holder Johnny Townsend give the Gators some serious piece of mind in their kicking game.

Countdown to Camp: Special Teams

Tuesday, August 1, 2017 | Football, Chris Harry

With the one-two punch of Eddy Pineiro and Johnny Townsend, the Gators might have the best kicking situation in college football.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

* Part 8

SPECIAL TEAMS

They're back: P Johnny Townsend (6-1, 211, R-Senior); PK Eddy Pineiro (6-0, 173, R-Junior); LS Ryan Farr (6-0, 223, Junior); PK Jorge Powell (5-10, 177, R-Junior).

Fresh faces: P Jacob Finn (6-2, 198, R-Freshman); P Tommy Townsend (6-1, 195, R-Sophomore).

Overview: From the moment Pineiro arrived on the UF campus in January 2016, the Gators knew their placekicking woes of the previous three seasons were solved — thanks to YouTube. Pineiro was an Internet sensation as a recruit in South Florida and wasted no time transitioning his skills onto the UF field, starting with his three field goals in the Orange & Blue spring game, with two from beyond 50 yards. In his rookie sophomore season, Pineiro went 21-for-25 on field goals — including 11-for-13 from 40 yards and beyond — and converted all 32 point-after attempts. His reliability and accuracy allowed the Southeastern Conference's worst offense to salvage points in plus territory and led directly to several wins, including road victories at Vanderbilt (13-6) and the East Division-clincher at LSU (16-10). Just last spring, Pineiro re-established that whole YouTube thing when he bombed an 81-yarder on the practice field (see below). Townsend, meanwhile, is Pineiro multiplied by three, in that he's been a postseason honoree in each of the three seasons he's competed. In 2016, Townsend averaged a career-best 47.9 yards per attempt, with 29 punts of at least 50 yards, 27 downed inside the 20 and just seven touchbacks. Townsend also is the holder on all kick placements. With Pineiro and Townsend on the Lou Groza and Ray Guy watch lists for the nation's best kicker and punter, respectively, the Gators may have the best 1-2 kicking punch in all of college football. The long-snapper who gets them the ball, Farr, has been near-perfect during his UF run. In fact, Coach Jim McElwain praises Farr because no one knows his name. Anonymity, after all, is always good for a long-snapper. As for the return element of this category, look for WR Antonio Callaway (26 returns, 8.4 avg) to be back again for punts, with maybe an appearance from WR Brandon Powell (5 returns, 4.6 avg). Certainly, a darkhorse candidate could emerge in camp. The kickoff-return battle is looking like a competition between WR Dre Massey, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on the opening kickoff of 2016, along with RB Lamical Perine (4 returns, 21.5 avg) and WR Freddie Swain (1 return, 11 yds).

81 yarder with pads on. No excuses! Ready for the season to start????@GatorsFB @FloridaGators pic.twitter.com/5IeZ0tXyhn
— Eddy Piñeiro (@eddypineiro1) May 2, 2017

If season started today: The Gators should feel very, very good about their kicking teams.

Speculation: Though playmaking and speed makes him an obvious candidate, Callaway probably won't get the call for kickoffs because he is so valuable to the offense. That being said, Callaway had the team's only kickoff return for a touchdown last season when the Gators put the "hands team" on the field late in anticipation of an onside kick by Missouri. Callaway caught the ball and went 44 yards for the TD.

The Series
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running Backs
Part 3: Wide Receivers and Tight ends
Part 4: Offensive line
Part 5: Defensive line
Part 6: Linebackers
Part 7: Defensive backs