Countdown to Camp: Special Teams

Fifth-year senior Jorge Powell has experience kicking off, but has only attempted three field goals during his career.

Countdown to Camp: Special Teams

Wednesday, August 1, 2018 | Football, Chris Harry

The eighth and final installment of our position-by-position look at the Gators heading toward the start of preseason practice Friday.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

SPECIALISTS

They're back: Placekickers — Jorge Powell (5-9, 176, R-Senior); Chris Howard (6-1, 214, R-Freshman) Daniel Justino (5-8, 168, R-Sophomore). Punters — Tommy Townsend (6-1, 175, R-Junior); Jacob Finn (6-3, 188, R-Sophomore); Jon Gould (6-0, 180, R-Junior). Long-snappers — Ryan Farr (6-1, 221, Senior); Jacob Tilghman (6-2, 214, R-Junior); Brett DioGuardi (6-3, 230, Freshman).

Fresh faces: Placekickers — Evan McPherson (6-0, 165, Freshman).

If Tommy Townsend can fill the big shoes left by his older brother, the Gators will be set at the punter position.

Overview: In Eddy Pineiro and Johnny Townsend, the Gators enjoyed a two-year run with arguably the best 1-2 kicker-punter punch in the nation. It was a double-edged sword of security, however. Florida could lean on Pineiro's big and accurate leg when its offense bogged down in the red zone (which in the Jim McElwain offense happened a lot). And when UF needed to flip the field because its offense bogged down in minus territory (which in the McElwain offense happened a lot),

Townsend was relied upon to boom one out of the danger zone and help his defense. Well, both are now kicking for Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders, which puts the Gators' special teams in something of an unknown predicament. Powell actually has some experience. He was UF's kicker for four games in 2015 before suffering a season-ending knee injury while covering a kickoff. His career numbers show 2-for-3 on field goals (with a long of 31) and 10-for-11 on extra points. Powell is accurate, but does not have a big leg like Pineiro (not even close). He'll vie with McPherson, a true freshman who does have a strong leg and was one of the top-ranked kicking prospects in his signing class, for front-line duties. The next Townsend, as in Tommy (and as in Johnny's little brother), transferred to UF in 2016 from Tennessee. As a prep prospect, he was rated the nation's No. 1 punter, so he comes with expectations, even though he's never attempted a collegiate punt. His competition will be Finn and Gould, both of whom also are punt-less in their careers. Townsend, like his brother, will double as holder on placements. Farr, the long-snapper, is by far the most experienced of the specialists. This will be his fourth season snapping for the Gators, with 38 games under his belt. Beyond the kickers, Coach Dan Mullen and his staff put premium in the spring not just on the need for guys to contribute on special teams, but for the units to excel. McElwain's special teams were void of splash plays and rarely contributed to sudden change or hidden yardage results (beyond Townsend's booming kicks). Sophomores CJ Henderson and Kadarius Toney got good looks in the spring as returners. Meanwhile, junior Freddie Swain, with his sure hands, could be back there as a safety net. And wouldn't it be nice to see a blocked punt or field goal, for a change? Given Mullen's emphasis on the units, and Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham's aggressive nature and goals for sudden-change and field position, maybe this will be the season the Gators go on the attack in their kicking game. Been a long time.

Ryan Farr has long-snapped for the UF special teams each of the last three seasons.

If the season started today: Powell would be kicking field goals and PATs, Townsend would be punting and holding. Farr gets long-snapping chores. Henderson and Swain would tag-team returns.

Speculation: With regard to field goals, McPherson's stronger leg may have him on the field for plus-40 attempts, but all that depends on how he performs in his rookie camp.

Up next: First practice, Friday, 3:30-6 p.m.

The Series
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running backs
Part 3: Receivers
Part 4: Offensive line
Part 5: Defensive line
Part 6: Linebackers
Part 7: Defensive backs