Punter Jeremy Crawshaw, left, and kicker Trey Smack give the Gators a strong tandem of specialists. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
Gators Position Preview: Special Teams
Thursday, August 22, 2024 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida's special teams battled a perception problem in 2023. It was one the Gators had no chance of winning because of high-profile mistakes.
On paper, the Gators performed specific tasks very well. Punter Jeremy Crawshaw averaged 48.9 yards per kick, helping UF finish fourth nationally in net punting (43.7). Florida finished sixth nationally in kick return defense, limiting opponents to 15.1 yards per return.
Kicker Trey Smack, who replaced incumbent Adam Mihalek early in the season, made 17 of 21 field goals and finished 29 of 29 on PATs. Florida ranked 31st nationally in punt returns (10.8) and 51st in kickoff returns (20.7).
The problem was too many penalties and too few players on the field, an issue that popped up more than once to generate the unwanted attention social media critics feast upon and head coaches steam over.
Gators coach Billy Napier was forced to address the topic publicly more than once during the season, and in the offseason, hired former Southern Cal kicker Joe Houston from the New England Patriots as a senior analyst to work alongside gamechanger coordinator Chris Couch.
"One of the ways we felt we needed to adapt is we needed another layer of expertise in the special-teams area," Napier said as preseason camp opened. "We've had organizational issues that obviously [are] well-documented. So, we needed to get better in those areas, and I think Joe has provided a good sounding board. His working relationship with Coach Couch and now the fact that those guys — the gloves come off [with the new rules], and they're on the grass and can give instruction on the field, I think is going to be a huge advantage for us."
Besides adding Houston and incorporating a launch pad to organize specific units for when it's their time to take the field, the most crucial development for the Gators is that both Crawshaw and Smack return to the kicking game.
With preseason camp over, we continue our Gators Position Preview series with a closer look at the special teams.
An Australian import, Crawshaw enters his final season among the nation's top punters. He booted 21 punts for 50 or more yards a season ago and is a contender for the Ray Guy Award in 2024, given annually to the nation's top punter. Meanwhile, Smack proved a consistent weapon with only four missed attempts last season. Smack hit a pair of kicks of more than 50 yards, including a career-high 54-yarder in the victory at South Carolina. Long snapper Rocco Underwood is a veteran who gets the job done, routinely putting the ball on Crawshaw's hands as he holds for Smack's attempts. The most significant question mark for the special teams heading into the season opener against Miami is in the return game. Napier said this week that "it's really competitive." He mentioned receivers Chimere Dike, Tank Hawkins and Eugene Wilson III, along with running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Jadan Baugh, taking reps at punt return as the Gators seek to replace Ricky Pearsall, last season's primary punt returner. Wilson seems a natural fit for the position with his ability to make tacklers miss and turn on the speed in an instant. Hawkins, Baugh and receiver Aidan Mizell are competing at kickoff return, where the departed Trevor Etienne got the bulk of the work in 2023. "Something that's important to understand is that when you're the returner, the most important thing is to secure the ball and make sure it gets to the offense," Napier said. "Your decision making and your ability to communicate is probably the most important part, but ball security and your ability to make a good decision in the moment … that's part of their job. We have some good players who can do that well, and then we have some talented players who need to improve in those areas." One area the Gators want to clean up is limiting blocked kicks. Florida had four kicks blocked a season ago and ranked 120th among FBS schools in that category.
Former soccer player Trey Smack is back as the starting placekicker in 2024. (Photo: Mallory Peak/UAA Communications)
If season started today: Florida is in good shape with Crawshaw one of the country's top returning punters, Smack a veteran kicker, and Underwood a highly-ranked long snapper. If the communication improves and the mistakes are reduced, the pieces appear in place for a robust unit overall.
Speculation: Houston has added a vocal presence and is not shy at challenging players in the moment, a change of pace from the more academic Couch. Napier and Houston said the working relationship between Houston and Couch is good. The two have known each other for almost a decade. The bottom line is if the special teams can cut out the humiliating blunders and perform at or above last year's output, they have the potential to be a strength of the Gators in Napier's third season.
Quote of Note: "Very few players on our roster have the opportunity to change the game with 40-plus yards of field position on every attempt they go out on the field, and Jeremy is that guy. He's a weapon. His statistics from last year speak volumes of the player he is. You don't lead the conference in net punting on accident. That's a weapon from a defensive perspective." — Senior analyst Joe Houston on punter Jeremy Crawshaw
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