Gators Position Outlook: Special Teams
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
Editor's note: This story was posted during spring camp. Any changes in personnel are noted.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators special teams coordinator Greg Nord drew some laughs at his introductory press conference when he told a story about running into former Gators receiver Frankie Hammond in the UF football offices soon after he was hired in January.
Right away, Nord saw a player that might be able to help on special teams. Of course, Hammond is out of eligibility and in the NFL.
While Nord struck out on Hammond, he is busy this spring trying to identify players that can make a difference on special teams.
He is confident there are some solutions on the roster.
“This isn't a school that's had one guy be successful, two guys be successful,'' Nord said. “We've had a history here of being special in all phases.”
First-year head coach Jim McElwain didn't discuss special teams much during the Gators' first week of spring camp. The offense grabbed most of the headlines, specifically the quarterback battle between Treon Harris and Will Grier.
However, after the team's second practice on Wednesday, McElwain said the foursome of receiver Demarcus Robinson, defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III, running back/receiver Brandon Powell and redshirt freshman cornerback J.C. Jackson are getting a look at returning kicks. (Note: Jackson is no longer a member of the program).
The Gators lost Andre Debose, their primary kickoff and punt returner last season. Debose finished his UF career with five career kick returns for touchdowns (four kickoff, one punt), tying a school record held by Brandon James (four punt, one kickoff).
“Those guys back there are guys that handle it,'' McElwain said. “We haven't determined really any of the starters.”
Senior Valdez Showers (six for 15.2 yards per return) and Powell (five for 19.6) had the most kickoff returns behind Debose in 2014. McElwain likes Powell's speed and quickness and moved him primarily to receiver this spring to see if the sophomore from Miami can be more effective in the passing game.
While Nord is the special teams coordinator, the entire offensive staff has a role in coaching kickoff returns, something McElwain did at Colorado State.
“They're the ones who teach it because it's the first play of that series,” McElwain said. “That's kind of how we approach it.”
Robinson returned three punts last season and Hargreaves had three returns for 30 yards as a freshman in 2013. Jackson missed his freshman season following preseason shoulder surgery but returned kicks in high school.
Assistant Greg Nord watches kicker Jorge Powell at work during spring practice. (Photo: Tim Casey)
The kicking game features a new face. Well, sort of.
Redshirt sophomore punter Johnny Townsend did not play last season after replacing Kyle Christy as the starter midway through the 2013 season. As a true freshman, Townsend averaged 42 yards on 29 punts.
Christy regained the starting job last season and finished his UF career with a solid season, averaging 44.2 yards on 64 punts. With Christy's departure, Townsend is the only punter on the roster this spring. (Note: The Gators added freshman walk-on punter Jack Spicer from Estero [Fla.] over the summer).
Meanwhile, redshirt junior Austin Hardin is atop the depth chart at placekicker. Hardin rebounded from a subpar 2013 season (4 of 12) to make 7 of 10 field goals last season, including the winning kick at Tennessee and a career-high four field goals in the loss at Florida State.
Hardin handled kickoff duties as well and split placekicking duties with senior Frankie Velez, who made 12 of 14 field goals in his final season.
Another kicker on the roster is redshirt freshman Jorge Powell, who joined the team in the summer of 2014 as a walk-on. Powell kicked a school-record 54-yard field goal and made all 29 of his extra-point attempts as the Offensive MVP at Belen Jesuit Prep in Miami two seasons ago.
The Gators lost a pair of steady performers in long snapper Drew Ferris and holder Kyle Crofoot.
Walk-on Ryan Farr worked as the long snapper this spring. Townsend and the quarterbacks split reps at holder.
As for Nord, he is on the hunt for players who can make the Gators' special teams a dangerous threat across the board.
The Gators have blocked only one kick the last two seasons after blocking 12 from 2011-12.
“It'll be a full-staff deal in that on one guy can run any phase of any part of a program,'' Nord said. “But it's one place that does help you mesh a team together because you'll have offensive guys lined up next to defensive guys.”
