The Florida Gators special teams unit ranked 95th in division one football a season ago with a grade of 70.2, according to Pro Football Focus. The Orange and Blue had inconsistences throughout almost all areas of special teams, including the field goal unit, coverage, and return teams.
Adam Mihalek led the Gators’ field goal unit in 2022, connecting on 14 of his 21 attempts (66.67%) with a long of 52 yards. Mihalek was nearly perfect on PAT’s, sending 42 of his 43 attempts (97.7%) through the uprights. The redshirt sophomore was placed on a spring scholarship after his first season with the Florida football team.
Trey Smack, who was brought in on scholarship, saw action on kickoffs during his freshman campaign. In seven games played, Smack kicked off 32 times for an average of 64.0 yards, finding 18 touchbacks (56.3%) in 2022. The Severna Park, Maryland native is known for his strong leg and will compete for more opportunities in the kicking and field goal units this fall.
“I think our specialists, it’s one of the things that I think is maybe gets overlooked, because we do have our specialists back,” Billy Napier said during fall camp. “I do think they’re really good at what they do, and I do think Trey Smack continues to improve, you know, and I do think Adam [Mihalek] has had a great offseason.”
Gators’ punter Jeremy Crawshaw was one of the lone bright spots on the special teams unit in 2022. The Australian punter averaged 47.9 yards per punt in his third season at Florida, ranking second amongst all collegiate punters a season ago. Crawshaw’s career average of 45.7 yards per punt would rank second in program history, trailing only Johnny Townsend (2013-17, 46.2).
“We all know Crawshaw was one of the elite punters in the country, and Rocco [Underwood] I think is not only an effective snapper of the ball, but can be in you know, in coverage, can provide some good things for our team. So, I like that group.”
Florida will turn to a variety of electric play makers in attempt to make a difference in the return game.
“I do think that in the return world, you know, obviously Ricky [Pearsall] and Trevor [Etienne] and you know, Montrell [Johnson], I think some of these young players like Tre Wilson and Andy Jean, there’s a number of these guys that are going to be a factor, Aidan Mizell. So, we’re in the process of working on that. I don’t think there’s any question that Tre [Wilson] will also be a factor at some point. But, you know, we’ve got guys that have experience with Ricky and Trevor there as well.”
Running back Trevor Etienne led the Gators in kickoff returns last season, working to an average of 25.2 yards per return (team high) with a long of 50 yards on 17 returns.
Etienne is more focused on his special teams role than he was last year.
“Watching more film on kickoff returns. Paying more attention to it,” Etienne said during fall camp. “I would say last year I wasn’t as locked in as I should have been. Being a freshman, coming from high school, I didn’t watch as much film as I needed to. Staying more on myself.”
Not all star players at the collegiate level want to participate in kickoff or punt returns, but the Gators have a duo in Trevor Etienne and Ricky Pearsall that are excited about the opportunity to help their team any way they can.
“Feel like that creates value and whatever the team needs, I’m here for it,” Etienne said. “I kind of enjoy doing that, kick returning, special teams, that’s something I really enjoy.”
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall saw limited in action on punt returns in 2022, returning only four punts for 27 yards.
“I really hope so. I have fun on special teams. I really hope so. I love returning,” Pearsall said on if he’ll contribute on special teams. “My first-time punt returning was actually last year and I really enjoyed that. My Pops was a punt returner when he was in college, so it’s in the blood. I really punt returning, I really did, so hopefully that’s what it is.”
While Napier seems to have players in place to make a positive impact on special teams, the Gators need a team effort to take significant strides in year two under Billy Napier.