Big South Special Teams 2011
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:47 am
Its a little late in coming but here is the final unit breakdown I have for the Big South:
Charleston Southern
Andy Brown (Kicker/Punter) 59 Punts 2013 Yds 34.1 YPP 9 PI20 19/19 PAT 1-1 FG
TJ Higgins
Cameron Mitchell
Mark Deboy
John Paglia was "the man" when it came time to go for 3 for CSU (which wasnt often as he only attempted 8 field goals all year), but with his graduating, Andy Brown may have to shoulder both kicking and punting duties. Redshirt freshman TJ Higgins could be called upon to kick to take the load off Brown. All Conference honoree Gerald Stevenson is gone but look for Charles James to do some punt returns as well (the only player in the top 5 on the team returning for 2011), while Cornelius Sterling will be the top kick returner back for 2011
Coastal Carolina
Grant Clayton
Alex Catron
Devin Southerland
The Chants will also have a new face teeing it up for them this fall with the graduation of former all conference kicker Justin Durham. Grant Clayton comes over from the Sun Belt's University of Louisiana-Monroe and likely will be the #1 kicker, but will be pushed by freshmen Catron and Southerland. Niccolo Mastromatteo probably made the biggest splash last year, showing himself to be a very good kick and punt returner (including a 91 yard return for his first and only TD on the season). He will be one to watch for sure along with Josh Norman.
Gardner-Webb
Trever Austin
Graham Purvis
Bo Lindsey
The Runnin Bulldogs will have a new kicker in addition to their new coach in Ron Dickerson Jr. as Trever Austin steps in to try to replace Ryan Gates, who only finished a perfect 27-27 in PATs and 6-11 in FGs (but 1-3 from 40+ yards) and led the team in scoring in 2010. Graham Purvis returns to take the punting duties. Richard Jules and all conference WR James Perry III lead the return team.
Liberty
Matt Bevins 20-27 FG (5-10 40+ yards) 45-46 PAT 2010 Big South All Conference First Team
Mike Larsson 33 Punts 1376 Yds 41.7 YPP 11 PI20 2010 Big South All Conference First Team
Alex Kacere
Liberty is probably the most stable of the teams in conference going into this season as they return both the starting kicker and the starting punter in Bevins and Larsson. Bevins has been the mainstay at kicker since he arrived and has been an All American all three previous seasons. Larsson has come on and become one of the top punters in the conference in the last two years. BJ Hayes will lead the return unit that will be without the only player to "take it to the house" in 2010, Danny Broggin
Presbyterian
Aaron Mayes
Patrick Morgano 68 Punts 2683 Yards 39.5 YPP 17 PI20 2010 Big South All Conference Second Team
Jeremy Tommie
Stephen Doar
Presbyterian didnt score a ton in 2010 (outscored 373-223 and scoring fewer than 10 points on 2 occasions and < 20 points on 6 total occasions) but when they did, they could count on Cam Miller to come in and make things happen. With his graduation, the kicking duties primarily will go to one of three players: Aaron Mayes, Patrick Morgano (who led the conference in punting even though Mike Larsson of Liberty has a superior average) and Jeremy Tommie. Michael Ruff and Cedric Byrd will lead the way in the return game for the Blue Hose, Byrd finishing 6th in PR average in 2010.
Stony Brook
Wesley Skiffington 7-12 FG (2-4 40+ Yds) 44-46 PAT 2010 Big South All Conference Second Team
Josh Gibson
Luke Allen
The Skiff is back in the harbor for the boys from Long Island. Skiffington finished second to Matt Bevins of Liberty in PATs made in 2010 and tied for 4th in field goals on the way to second team all conference honors. Look for Josh Gibson to take the punting duties with the graduation of Drew Evangelista. Brock Jackolski finished as the top kick returner in 2010 and look for more of the same from the speedy running back, along with Jordan Gush who contributed in punt returns
VMI
Jeff Sexton 7-15 FG (1-3 40+ yards) 21-21 PAT
James Devens
Cameron Murray
Sexton is back for the Runnin Roos as they go into their second season of a more "pro-style"offense but the one with the biggest shoes to fill would be Cameron Murray as he replaces Marc Ray (2009 First Team All Conference). Michael Rainey-Wiles is gone but if anything, VMI will be able to find someone to fill his shoes (former Keydet Tim Maypray is now starring as a returner for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL).
And now for the rankings, first as a team.
1. Liberty
2. Stony Brook
3. Presbyterian
4. Charleston Southern
5. Coastal Carolina
6. Gardner-Webb
7. Presbyterian
And now for the individual, first with the kickers:
1. Matt Bevins, Liberty
2. Wesley Skiffington, Stony Brook
3. Jeff Sexton, VMI
4. Aaron Mayes, Presbyterian
5. Grant Clayton, Coastal Carolina
6. Trever Austin, Gardner-Webb
7. TJ Higgins, Charleston Southern
and now for the punters:
1. Mike Larsson, Liberty
2. Patrick Morgano, Presbyterian
3. Josh Gibson, Stony Brook
4. Andy Brown, Charleston Southern
5.Graham Purvis, Gardner-Webb
6. Cameron Murray, VMI
7. Devin Southerland, Coastal Carolina
Charleston Southern
Andy Brown (Kicker/Punter) 59 Punts 2013 Yds 34.1 YPP 9 PI20 19/19 PAT 1-1 FG
TJ Higgins
Cameron Mitchell
Mark Deboy
John Paglia was "the man" when it came time to go for 3 for CSU (which wasnt often as he only attempted 8 field goals all year), but with his graduating, Andy Brown may have to shoulder both kicking and punting duties. Redshirt freshman TJ Higgins could be called upon to kick to take the load off Brown. All Conference honoree Gerald Stevenson is gone but look for Charles James to do some punt returns as well (the only player in the top 5 on the team returning for 2011), while Cornelius Sterling will be the top kick returner back for 2011
Coastal Carolina
Grant Clayton
Alex Catron
Devin Southerland
The Chants will also have a new face teeing it up for them this fall with the graduation of former all conference kicker Justin Durham. Grant Clayton comes over from the Sun Belt's University of Louisiana-Monroe and likely will be the #1 kicker, but will be pushed by freshmen Catron and Southerland. Niccolo Mastromatteo probably made the biggest splash last year, showing himself to be a very good kick and punt returner (including a 91 yard return for his first and only TD on the season). He will be one to watch for sure along with Josh Norman.
Gardner-Webb
Trever Austin
Graham Purvis
Bo Lindsey
The Runnin Bulldogs will have a new kicker in addition to their new coach in Ron Dickerson Jr. as Trever Austin steps in to try to replace Ryan Gates, who only finished a perfect 27-27 in PATs and 6-11 in FGs (but 1-3 from 40+ yards) and led the team in scoring in 2010. Graham Purvis returns to take the punting duties. Richard Jules and all conference WR James Perry III lead the return team.
Liberty
Matt Bevins 20-27 FG (5-10 40+ yards) 45-46 PAT 2010 Big South All Conference First Team
Mike Larsson 33 Punts 1376 Yds 41.7 YPP 11 PI20 2010 Big South All Conference First Team
Alex Kacere
Liberty is probably the most stable of the teams in conference going into this season as they return both the starting kicker and the starting punter in Bevins and Larsson. Bevins has been the mainstay at kicker since he arrived and has been an All American all three previous seasons. Larsson has come on and become one of the top punters in the conference in the last two years. BJ Hayes will lead the return unit that will be without the only player to "take it to the house" in 2010, Danny Broggin
Presbyterian
Aaron Mayes
Patrick Morgano 68 Punts 2683 Yards 39.5 YPP 17 PI20 2010 Big South All Conference Second Team
Jeremy Tommie
Stephen Doar
Presbyterian didnt score a ton in 2010 (outscored 373-223 and scoring fewer than 10 points on 2 occasions and < 20 points on 6 total occasions) but when they did, they could count on Cam Miller to come in and make things happen. With his graduation, the kicking duties primarily will go to one of three players: Aaron Mayes, Patrick Morgano (who led the conference in punting even though Mike Larsson of Liberty has a superior average) and Jeremy Tommie. Michael Ruff and Cedric Byrd will lead the way in the return game for the Blue Hose, Byrd finishing 6th in PR average in 2010.
Stony Brook
Wesley Skiffington 7-12 FG (2-4 40+ Yds) 44-46 PAT 2010 Big South All Conference Second Team
Josh Gibson
Luke Allen
The Skiff is back in the harbor for the boys from Long Island. Skiffington finished second to Matt Bevins of Liberty in PATs made in 2010 and tied for 4th in field goals on the way to second team all conference honors. Look for Josh Gibson to take the punting duties with the graduation of Drew Evangelista. Brock Jackolski finished as the top kick returner in 2010 and look for more of the same from the speedy running back, along with Jordan Gush who contributed in punt returns
VMI
Jeff Sexton 7-15 FG (1-3 40+ yards) 21-21 PAT
James Devens
Cameron Murray
Sexton is back for the Runnin Roos as they go into their second season of a more "pro-style"offense but the one with the biggest shoes to fill would be Cameron Murray as he replaces Marc Ray (2009 First Team All Conference). Michael Rainey-Wiles is gone but if anything, VMI will be able to find someone to fill his shoes (former Keydet Tim Maypray is now starring as a returner for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL).
And now for the rankings, first as a team.
1. Liberty
2. Stony Brook
3. Presbyterian
4. Charleston Southern
5. Coastal Carolina
6. Gardner-Webb
7. Presbyterian
And now for the individual, first with the kickers:
1. Matt Bevins, Liberty
2. Wesley Skiffington, Stony Brook
3. Jeff Sexton, VMI
4. Aaron Mayes, Presbyterian
5. Grant Clayton, Coastal Carolina
6. Trever Austin, Gardner-Webb
7. TJ Higgins, Charleston Southern
and now for the punters:
1. Mike Larsson, Liberty
2. Patrick Morgano, Presbyterian
3. Josh Gibson, Stony Brook
4. Andy Brown, Charleston Southern
5.Graham Purvis, Gardner-Webb
6. Cameron Murray, VMI
7. Devin Southerland, Coastal Carolina