Big South K 2014

[bjtheflamesfan]

We move to the specialists this week, and this year I decided to split them into two separate groups so this week we take a look at the first players to touch the ball during the game...and its not the centers...

Charleston Southern
David Kennedy No 2013 Stats (2014 Signee)
Patrick Woods No 2013 Stats (2014 Signee

The Bucs cleaned house following 2013, with no the only returning kicker being Truett Burns (who was the starting punter in 2013, a position we will touch on next week), despite #1 kicker Mark DeBoy finishing 9-12 on kicks last season (although he missed his only attempt from 40+ in a win over VMI and both attempts in a win over UNC-Charlotte) The kicking game has now been tasked to a trio of freshmen in Kennedy, Woods and Kennedy's Summerville teammate Bryan Jordan

Coastal Carolina

Alex Catron 10/13 FG Long 50 60/63 XP (2013 Big South All-Conference First Team)
Ryan Granger 2/2 FG Long 44 3/3 XP

Catron became the first kicker not from Stony Brook or Liberty to be named first team all-conference kicker since Ryan Gates in 2008. The senior from Florida finished as the second most accurate kicker in the conference behind Jordan Day of Gardner-Webb, but tops in the conference in points among kickers. Granger took a couple kicks filling in for Catron, hitting all 5 attempts (2 FG 3 XP)

Gardner-Webb

Sebastian Cuenca No 2013 Stats (redshirt)
Grayson Gregory No 2013 Stats

The Runnin Bulldogs graduate a fine kicker in Jordan Day who led the conference in FG percentage, making 14 of 18 kicks and 27 of 29 XP in 2013, finishing as the second team all-conference kicker behind Catron. They bring back redshirt freshman Cuenca who will probably be the primary kicker heading into 2014.

Liberty
Jon Lunsford 8-19 (Long 52) FG 53/53 XP
Shane Blanchard 0/0 FG 6/6 XP

Lunsford struggled with his field goal accuracy throughout 2013, although he was a perfect 3/3 inside of 30 yards and 2/4 at 50 yards plus, including a season long 52 yard field goal against both Old Dominion and Gardner-Webb. The junior will be out the first two games of 2014 due to a violation of team rules, which paves the way for Blanchard who only attempted XPs last season, as well as incoming freshman Avery Echols, who has shown significant range on his highlight tape.

Monmouth

Lucas Santangelo No 2013 Stats (handled kickoffs)
John Coleman No 2013 Stats

The Hawks lose their outstanding kicker in Eric Spillane, who finished 10/15 on field goals last season, which would have finished 4th in the Big South in 2013. Santangelo, who handled all the kickoffs in 2013, will likely be handling most of the field goal duties, although Coleman or fellow true freshman Matt White could get the call as well and the junior stays with kickoffs.

Presbyterian

Brett Wilson 0/3 FG 16/19 XP
Tim Hartshorn No 2013 Stats

Wilson, a true freshman in 2013, did not get many opportunities to kick field goals, as PC only attempted 4 total. He missed all three of his attempts, but could always be counted to finish off Blue Hose TD drives, converting 85 percent of his XP attempts. Kicker will be a very young position down in Clinton in 2014 as three true freshmen will be vying for the other kicker position on the two deep (Punter Stephen Doar may also see quite a bit of work, will talk more about him next Monday), led by Hartshorn.

Rankings

Due to the singular nature of the kicker positions, I will only post individual rankings

1. Alex Catron, CCU
2. Jon Lunsford, LU (will sit out first two games)
3. Brett Wilson, PC
4. Lucas Santangelo, MU
5. Sebastian Cuenca, GWU
6. Shane Blanchard, LU
7. Grayson Gregory, GWU
8. John Coleman, MU
9. Ryan Granger, CCU
10. David Kennedy, CSU

[Libertine]

Charleston Southern
Mark DeBoy 9/12 FG 2/4 XP
TJ Higgins 1/1 FG 25/27 XP

CSU brings back both kickers from 2013, DeBoy responsible for the FGs primarily and Higgins the man for the point afters.

No, they don't. Look at the roster. Neither one came back even for spring practice. CSU signed two kickers on Signing Day. The guy most likely to put boot to leather for against Point is local product and true freshman David Kennedy.

[bjtheflamesfan]

Huh...youre right Lib...upon further examination, it looks like the Bucs really cleaned house in the kicking game after last year (and all three of their kickers were actually quite serviceable).

[bodoyle]

Like I said in the Punters thread: CJM said one of the biggest things he was focusing on when he came to CCU was Special Teams. He has completely turned around that aspect of the game at CCU. We haven't had a solid kicker since Josh Hoke.