Special teams is often overlooked by many, yet it can determine the outcome of the game just as easily as offense or defense can. Good special teams play comes from the coaches. While certain individuals do excel in this area, it's down to the coaching staff to get the best out of players who are more interested in playing wide receiver or outside linebacker.
10. Hawaii
An honourable mention for Hawaii and departing return man Mike Edwards. In 2012 Edwards had over a thousand return yards at an average of 30.4 which included three touchdowns. Punt returner Scott Harding also ran one kick back and averaged 12.8 yards per return. Hawaii doesn’t face elite competition but their coaching staff deserves credit for impressive special teams play throughout.
9. TCU
Skye Dawson was a top ten punt returner last season, averaging 8.9 per return with a long of 64. Punter Ethan Perry ranked 15th in the nation with an average of 44.5 yards per punt. Kicker Jaden Oberkrom connected on 22-30 field goals with two over 50 yards.
8. Kent State
Shifty kick returner Dri Archer lands Kent State in the top ten. The 2012 MAC Specials Teams Player of The Year and All-American returned three kicks for touchdowns and average a staggering 34.8 yards a return. Punter Anthony Melchiori gets a deserved mention for his 42.6 yard punt average on 72 punts.
7. Tulane
Cairo Santos, who is favourite to win the Lou Groza Award - which is given to the best placekicker in college – for a second time, headlines the special teams unit at Tulane. The young Brazilian was successful on 100 percent of his kicks in 2012, going 21 for 21 with a huge long of 57. Tulane also ranked in the top 30 in punt return average in 2012.
6. Toledo
Toledo showed strength throughout their special teams unit in 2012. Impressive return man Bernard Reedy took three kick-offs all the way back for scores, as well as a 60-yard punt return. Kicker Jeremiah Detmer was successful on 24 kicks with a solid 82.8 percent conversion rate
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5. Florida State
Kicker Dustin Hopkins may have moved on to the NFL, but Florida State ranked in the top 16 in three categories a season ago! Hopkins was 83.3 percent success rate on field goals included a whopping five from 50-plus yards, that doesn’t happen without great coaching and understanding from all eleven men on the field. Rashad Greene averaged 15.4 yards on punt returns with two touchdowns, and despite the team only returning 31 kicks, they averaged 24.6 yards.
4. Duke
Duke’s special teams unit was almost faultless in 2012. Lee Butler had a return for a touchdown in both phases of the return game, averaging 17 yards on punt returns. Placekicker Ross Martin was 20 of 23 on his field goals, succeding with both kicks he attemped beyond 50 yards. Punter Will Monday rounds out the unit with 44.6 yards per punt, which included a long of 79 yards.
3. Northwestern
Jeff Budzien will push Cairo Santos all the way for the Lou Groza award, Budzien missed just one of 20 kicks a year ago. Punt returner Mark Venric had two touchdowns from a measly 15 returns at an 18.7 yard average.
2. Kansas State
The quality of Kansas State’s returners in 2012 wasn’t fair. Tyler Lockett returned 21 kicks for 688 yards and two touchdowns! That’s an average of 32.8 yards. Couple that with fellow returner Tremaine Thompson who avergade 33.4 yards on ten kick returns and 19.8 on 16 punt returns and kicking off out of bounds seems a legitimate option. Anthony Contele was solid with the boot as he was successful on 19 kicks.
1. Oklahoma
All four special teams units from Oklahoma ranked in the top 30 a season ago. Kick returner Brennan Clay averaged 25.4 yards, whilst punt returners Justin Brown and Jalen Saunders each returned kicks for touchdowns. Michael Hunnicutt missed just four of his 21 field goal attempts, whilst departing punter Tress Way saw 22 punts downed inside the 20.