One final piece of the offseason puzzle to breakdown. Glad I waited a little bit to do this specific breakdown as there are a lot of changes that we found about this week
KICKING
RETURNING
Matthew Wyman (SR, K/P, 6' 1" 225 lbs): 2/4 FGA, Long 51 yards, 4/5 PAT, 53 punts, 41.5 ypp, Long 58 yards, 1 punt touchback, 10 punts inside the 20, 43 kickoffs, 20 kickoff touchbacks
LOST
Eric Kahn (SR, P, 6' 5" 204 lbs): 29 punts, 34 ypp, Long 49 yards, 2 touchbacks, 6 punts inside the 20
Ruben Guzman (SR, P, 5' 8" 190 lbs): 2 punts, 30 ypp, Long 39 yards
Ryan Weese (JR, K, 5' 10" 175 lbs): no stats
Nick Bartolotta (SO, K, 5' 6" 181 lbs): 4/7 FGA, Long 40 yards, 17/18 PAT
Michael Valentine (FR, P, 6' 3" 172 lbs): no stats
Quinton Conaway (FR, P, 6' 1" 185 lbs): no stats
ADDED
Cole Moos (JR, P, 5' 11" 185 lbs)
Gabriel Rui (JR, K, 5' 11" 220 lbs)
Kyle Thompson (FR, P, 6' 4" 205 lbs)
RETURN TEAMS
RETURNING
Shakiem Barbel (SR, 6' 3" 203 lbs): 1 punt return, 0 ypr
Derrick Neal (JR, 5' 10" 170 lbs): 2 punt returns, -1.0 ypr, Long 10, 9 kickoff returns, 15.2 ypr, Long 24 yards
Ryan Schadler (SO, 5' 11" 191 lbs): 33 kickoff returns, 22.7 ypr, Long 91 yards, 1 TD
Steven Sims (SO, 5' 10" 176 lbs): 3 kickoff returns, 16.3 ypr, Long 20 yards
Josh Ehambe (SO, 6' 3" 247 lbs): 1 kickoff return, 0 ypr
LOST
Tre Parmalee (SR, 5' 10" 171 lbs): 10 punt returns, 2.8 ypr, Long 26 yards
Taylor Cox (SR, 5' 11" 206 lbs): 8 kickoff returns, 19.8 ypr, Long 26 yards
BREAKDOWN
Right out of the gates, will talk about something that was hard to cover above and that is the return blocking units and the coverage units. Not really sure the best way to talk about those guys and really don't know what to say about those returning, so that is one big foggy area that if someone wants to breakdown then I am all ears. A couple of things that I think are interesting. At media days, Joe Dineen said he would be on all four special teams units - do we see that with multiple starters this season? I think a guy like Colin Spencer deserves some props here as he was solid on coverage units. Also think this is an area a walk on can "earn it" - seeing a guy like Hudson Hall play some special teams last year, can guys like Keith Loneker Jr, Mazin Aql (who was really solid on special teams coverage units in HS), and maybe even a DeAnte Ford earn some playing time? This could be an area we really see the impact of a Joe DeForest, his coaching alone should help these units.
With the kicking game, a lot of turnover here, so going to be a fairly big unknown heading into the season. Wyman has a strong leg and has handled kickoff, punting, and kicking duties in the past. Don't think we want him doing all of that again, so would be nice if some of the incoming guys step up and help out. Wyman has been inconsistent as a kicker, but I think it is important to remember this was a guy that didn't start kicking until he was in college. DeForest has coached a kid into a Lou Groza award finalist, so he knows how to develop kickers. Is there enough time for him to "fix" Wyman? Not sure, but Wyman has a strong enough leg that I hope he does. I am thinking Kyle Thompson is a blue shirt given he flipped from Nevada where he had a scholarship offer to KU, so maybe it is a walk on spot but think there would have to be some incentive for him to flip to KU. It would be a pretty big deal if Thompson can come in and win the job as a freshman - to not have to worry about finding a punter the next few years while he staff continues to rebuild the roster would be nice. Gabriel Rui could be an interesting addition. My hope is he redshirts this year (because Wyman is solid), then can be solid for us next season and the year after - that's a best case scenario IMO. I think Roos will be more of a backup type guy, but there is time available so if he steps up and claims a spot, even better.
Now the return game could be potentially very interesting. Schadler returning at kick returner is a good thing - he should be even better after a solid freshman season. So we know we got at least one solid returner. Derrick Neal and Steven Sims got some returns here last year as well, so they could be potential returners back there with Schadler. Also think a guy like Taylor Martin with his speed could have some value returning kicks. But think we could see some new faces make an impact here. Quiv has great speed and return experience from Texas A&M. Kyle Mayberry was a solid return man in HS. Ian Peterson was also a solid return guy in HS. So while a returning guy may step into the spot opposite Schadler, I have a feeling it will be a new guy. A potential Schadler/Gonzalez return duo sounds very intriguing to me. We will have to replace Parmalee at punt returner. He wasn't spectacular there, but he was consistent, which we found out at times was pretty important when he wasn't back there. My guess for this spot is that Derrick Neal handles punt return responsibilities. He was solid there in HS and got a few reps there last year. I think Kyle Mayberry could potentially challenge for this spot as well.
Overall, I think we can be improved on the return and coverage units. I think we could be potentially dangerous at kick return. Kicking worries me some. I think Wyman has the potential to be solid, so hopefully DeForest can mold that strong leg of his into a more consistent kicker. Hoping Kyle Thompson can come in right away and be a solid punter for us for the next four years.
KICKING
RETURNING
Matthew Wyman (SR, K/P, 6' 1" 225 lbs): 2/4 FGA, Long 51 yards, 4/5 PAT, 53 punts, 41.5 ypp, Long 58 yards, 1 punt touchback, 10 punts inside the 20, 43 kickoffs, 20 kickoff touchbacks
LOST
Eric Kahn (SR, P, 6' 5" 204 lbs): 29 punts, 34 ypp, Long 49 yards, 2 touchbacks, 6 punts inside the 20
Ruben Guzman (SR, P, 5' 8" 190 lbs): 2 punts, 30 ypp, Long 39 yards
Ryan Weese (JR, K, 5' 10" 175 lbs): no stats
Nick Bartolotta (SO, K, 5' 6" 181 lbs): 4/7 FGA, Long 40 yards, 17/18 PAT
Michael Valentine (FR, P, 6' 3" 172 lbs): no stats
Quinton Conaway (FR, P, 6' 1" 185 lbs): no stats
ADDED
Cole Moos (JR, P, 5' 11" 185 lbs)
Gabriel Rui (JR, K, 5' 11" 220 lbs)
Kyle Thompson (FR, P, 6' 4" 205 lbs)
RETURN TEAMS
RETURNING
Shakiem Barbel (SR, 6' 3" 203 lbs): 1 punt return, 0 ypr
Derrick Neal (JR, 5' 10" 170 lbs): 2 punt returns, -1.0 ypr, Long 10, 9 kickoff returns, 15.2 ypr, Long 24 yards
Ryan Schadler (SO, 5' 11" 191 lbs): 33 kickoff returns, 22.7 ypr, Long 91 yards, 1 TD
Steven Sims (SO, 5' 10" 176 lbs): 3 kickoff returns, 16.3 ypr, Long 20 yards
Josh Ehambe (SO, 6' 3" 247 lbs): 1 kickoff return, 0 ypr
LOST
Tre Parmalee (SR, 5' 10" 171 lbs): 10 punt returns, 2.8 ypr, Long 26 yards
Taylor Cox (SR, 5' 11" 206 lbs): 8 kickoff returns, 19.8 ypr, Long 26 yards
BREAKDOWN
Right out of the gates, will talk about something that was hard to cover above and that is the return blocking units and the coverage units. Not really sure the best way to talk about those guys and really don't know what to say about those returning, so that is one big foggy area that if someone wants to breakdown then I am all ears. A couple of things that I think are interesting. At media days, Joe Dineen said he would be on all four special teams units - do we see that with multiple starters this season? I think a guy like Colin Spencer deserves some props here as he was solid on coverage units. Also think this is an area a walk on can "earn it" - seeing a guy like Hudson Hall play some special teams last year, can guys like Keith Loneker Jr, Mazin Aql (who was really solid on special teams coverage units in HS), and maybe even a DeAnte Ford earn some playing time? This could be an area we really see the impact of a Joe DeForest, his coaching alone should help these units.
With the kicking game, a lot of turnover here, so going to be a fairly big unknown heading into the season. Wyman has a strong leg and has handled kickoff, punting, and kicking duties in the past. Don't think we want him doing all of that again, so would be nice if some of the incoming guys step up and help out. Wyman has been inconsistent as a kicker, but I think it is important to remember this was a guy that didn't start kicking until he was in college. DeForest has coached a kid into a Lou Groza award finalist, so he knows how to develop kickers. Is there enough time for him to "fix" Wyman? Not sure, but Wyman has a strong enough leg that I hope he does. I am thinking Kyle Thompson is a blue shirt given he flipped from Nevada where he had a scholarship offer to KU, so maybe it is a walk on spot but think there would have to be some incentive for him to flip to KU. It would be a pretty big deal if Thompson can come in and win the job as a freshman - to not have to worry about finding a punter the next few years while he staff continues to rebuild the roster would be nice. Gabriel Rui could be an interesting addition. My hope is he redshirts this year (because Wyman is solid), then can be solid for us next season and the year after - that's a best case scenario IMO. I think Roos will be more of a backup type guy, but there is time available so if he steps up and claims a spot, even better.
Now the return game could be potentially very interesting. Schadler returning at kick returner is a good thing - he should be even better after a solid freshman season. So we know we got at least one solid returner. Derrick Neal and Steven Sims got some returns here last year as well, so they could be potential returners back there with Schadler. Also think a guy like Taylor Martin with his speed could have some value returning kicks. But think we could see some new faces make an impact here. Quiv has great speed and return experience from Texas A&M. Kyle Mayberry was a solid return man in HS. Ian Peterson was also a solid return guy in HS. So while a returning guy may step into the spot opposite Schadler, I have a feeling it will be a new guy. A potential Schadler/Gonzalez return duo sounds very intriguing to me. We will have to replace Parmalee at punt returner. He wasn't spectacular there, but he was consistent, which we found out at times was pretty important when he wasn't back there. My guess for this spot is that Derrick Neal handles punt return responsibilities. He was solid there in HS and got a few reps there last year. I think Kyle Mayberry could potentially challenge for this spot as well.
Overall, I think we can be improved on the return and coverage units. I think we could be potentially dangerous at kick return. Kicking worries me some. I think Wyman has the potential to be solid, so hopefully DeForest can mold that strong leg of his into a more consistent kicker. Hoping Kyle Thompson can come in right away and be a solid punter for us for the next four years.
