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The last time every SEC team returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown
By John Hollis
Published:
Special teams haven’t, well, been all that special at Kentucky in recent years.
The Wildcats have gone almost exactly five years since their last punt return for a touchdown and it’s been six since they last took a kickoff back to the house for a score.
UK owns the dubious distinction as being the only SEC school that has not returned a punt or a kickoff for a score since 2011, a fact that’s hardly been lost on coach Mark Stoops.
“We need to make some explosive plays in the return game,” he said at Kentucky’s recent Media Day, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
“We need to look at a lot of guys. We feel like we’re getting more and more play-makers in there. I feel like, kick returning, we’re going to have a lot of options. Punt returns is the one that we have to shore up.”
Kentucky isn’t exactly alone with a void of big plays in the return game. South Carolina’s last kickoff return for a touchdown took place back in 2002 when Matthew Thomas returned one 95 yards against Virginia.
You’ll also note below that Kentucky is like the United Way and seems to bring out the best in opposing special teams.
Here’s a look around the SEC at each school’s most recent punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns.
FLORIDA
Andre Debose was the last Gator to return a punt for a touchdown when he took one back 62 yards against LSU on Oct. 11, 2014. Florida’s last kickoff return for a score came courtesy of a Solomon Patton 100-yard return against Missouri on Oct. 19, 2013.
GEORGIA
Speedy Isaiah McKenzie was not only responsible for both Georgia’s most recent punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns, but he accounted for them in the same game (at Kentucky on Nov. 8, 2014). McKenzie took the opening kickoff back 90 yards for a score before later adding a 59-yard punt return for another touchdown.
ARKANSAS
Joe Adams was the last Razorbacks player to take a punt all the way back — 51 yards for a score against Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 6, 2012. Korliss Marshall was the last Arkansas player to account for a touchdown on a kickoff return when he took one back 97 yards against Northern Illinois on Sept. 20, 2014.
VANDERBILT
Jonathan Krause was the last Vanderbilt player to register a punt return touchdown, going 83 yards against Wake Forest on Nov. 24, 2012. Darrius Sims became the most recent Commodore to have returned a kickoff for a score when he took one back 100 yards against South Carolina on Sept. 20, 2014.
MISSISSIPPI
Jeff Scott accounted for the Rebels’ last punt return for a touchdown when he took one back 73 yards against Texas on Sept. 14, 2013. Jaylen Walton also victimized the Longhorns, returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 15, 2012.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Ace Sanders accounted for the Gamecocks’ last punt return for a score when he took one back 63 yards in the Jan. 1, 2013 Outback Bowl game against Michigan. Thomas’ 95-yard effort against UVA was the Gamecocks’ last kickoff to result in a touchdown.
KENTUCKY
It seems like an eternity now since the Wildcats’ Randall Cobb returned a punt 50 yards for a score against Western Kentucky on Sept. 11, 2010. Derrick Lock was the last UK player to return a kickoff unscathed, going 100 against Louisville on Sept. 19, 2009.
MISSOURI
Mizzou’s Marcus Murphy turned in his team’s most recent punt and kickoff returns for touchdown when he accounted for both against Florida on Oct. 18, 2014. Murphy returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score and a punt 82 yards.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Jonathan Banks returned a punt 65 yards for a score against UT-Martin on Nov. 5, 2011, while Christian Holmes recovered an on-sides kick and raced 61 yards the opposite way to account for Mississippi State’s last kickoff return touchdown against Kentucky on Oct. 25, 2014.
LSU
Tre’Davious White took a punt and raced 67 yards for a touchdown against Kentucky on Oct. 18, 2014 for the Tigers’ most recent score from a punt return. Leonard Fournette provided more special teams excitement in the Music City Bowl, taking a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Notre Dame on Dec. 30, 2014.
AUBURN
Quan Bray took a punt 76 yards back to the house against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 27, 2014. LevonteWhitfield returned a kickoff 100 yards against Florida State in the 2014 BCS National Championship game on Jan. 6, 2014.
TENNESSEE
The Vols’ Cameron Sutton returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown against Vanderbilt on Nov. 29, 2014. Cordarrelle Patterson accounted for UT’s last kickoff return for a score, going 98 yards at Mississippi State on Oct. 13, 2012.
TEXAS A&M
There’s been a drought of special teams scores at Texas A&M, with the Aggies having gone almost exactly three years without a return score of any kind. Dustin Harris accounted for the last one, going 96 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina State on Sept. 22, 2012. Coryell Judie turned in the last kickoff return for a score, going 84 yards at Baylor on Nov. 13, 2010.
ALABAMA
Christion Jones was a home-run threat for Alabama every time he touched the ball. He accounted for both of his team’s two punt return scores for touchdowns in 2013, the last covering 75 yards at Chattanooga’s expense on Nov. 23. Jones is responsible for the Crimson Tide’s last kickoff return for a score when he took one back 94 yards against Virginia Tech on Aug. 31, 2013.
John Hollis is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia and Florida.
