By DUGAN ARNETT
Having spent the past two days examining the best offensive and defensive players the Southeastern Conference has to offer, Gator Country today turns its attention to the league’s specialists – that group of often overlooked but highly integral players that pop in occasionally to give their respective teams a shot of momentum.
Special-teams play in the SEC figures to be a high-point this season – several specialists return following standout ’09 seasons, with Georgia featuring arguably the nation’s best collection of special-teams talent – and as such, it’s worth taking a look at which conference players have the greatest ability to significantly alter the complexion of a game.
The following is a breakdown of the five specialists with the best chance to make a difference this fall.
5. BRANDON BOYKIN, KICK RETURNER, GEORGIA: Boykin returned 38 kicks for 988 yards (a 26-yards-per-return average) and tied for second nationally with three kickoff returns for touchdowns as a sophomore last season. Both the 988 return yards and three touchdowns were Georgia records, and he also became the only player in SEC history to return two kicks for 100 yards in a season. While kick returns were his specialty a season ago, meanwhile, he’s also in the running to serve as the team’s punt returner, a position he tried out for this offseason.
4. RANDALL COBB, PUNT RETURNER, KENTUCKY: While Cobb’s offensive performance has generated the most buzz – he combined for 1,020 total yards and 14 touchdowns rushing and receiving last season, and the Wildcats have even dubbed their version of the Wildcat offense “The WildCobb” – his impact on special teams shouldn’t be overlooked. He averaged 12.83 yards on 24 punt returns last season, a number that ranked 16th nationally, and also returned a punt for a touchdown. Cobb is dangerous any time the ball is in his hands, and special teams situations are certainly no exception.
3. BLAIR WALSH, PLACEKICKER, GEORGIA: The first half of Georgia’s superb kicking/punting game, Walsh is about as reliable as they come. As a sophomore last season, he connected on 20 of 22 field-goal attempts, and his .909 percentage tied for second nationally among kickers with at least 20 attempts. What’s more, distance doesn’t seem to be an issue. He was an impressive 7-for-7 from 40-49 yards out and an even more impressive 4-for-5 from 50 or longer, which helped him finish the year as a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation’s top placekicker.
2. DREW BUTLER, PUNTER, GEORGIA: Still a football neophyte in some respects – he didn’t begin playing football until his sophomore year of high school – Butler has quickly made up for lost time in Athens. Last year, in just his first full season as the Bulldogs’ starting punter, he was named to the Walter Camp and American Football Coaches’ All-America first teams and was presented the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter. The son of former Georgia All-America placekicker Kevin Butler, he led the nation in yards-per-punt by nearly three yards with a 48.05-yard average.
1. WARREN NORMAN, KICK RETURNER, VANDERBILT: In his first season of college football, Norman wasted little time acquainting himself with the league. While also playing running back (he was the Commodores’ leading rusher last season with 783 yards), Norman handled kickoff return duties and thrived in the role. His 1,050 total return yards were an SEC freshman record, and his three kickoff returns for touchdowns tied the all-time single-season conference record. His 26.25 yards-per-return average, meanwhile, ranked in the top 25 nationally, and was the nation’s 14th-best average among players who returned at least 20 kicks. While uncertainty surrounds the Vanderbilt program in the wake of Bobby Johnson’s abrupt resignation this week, one area in which the Commodores should feel highly confident in is the kick returner position.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Derrick Locke, kick returner, Kentucky: Locke teams with teammate Cobb to make up one of the country’s most dangerous kick/punt return duos. His average of 27.78 yards on kick returns ranked 14th nationally in ‘09, and he finished the year with a special teams touchdown, as well.
Chas Henry, punter, Florida: Henry didn’t see much action thanks to the machine-like nature of his team’s offense last season, but he made the most of his limited opportunities. Thanks in no small part to Henry’s ability to hang punts, the Gators had just five punts returned against them in ’09, and ranked ninth nationally in punt return defense, allowing a meek 4.2 yards-per-return.
Chad Bumphis, kick/punt returner, Mississippi State: Leon Berry handled both kick- and punt-return duties last season, but it looks like Bumphis, a receiver with loads of potential, could take over both roles this season. If so, he’ll be worth keeping an eye on.