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In the summer, SEC fans analyze and re-analyze the two deep depth-charts of their team’s offense and defense. It is tempting to overlook the forgotten little brother, special teams.
But the kicking and return game can spring those extra few plays a year that make a difference between a champion and an also-ran, or between bowl-eligible and bowl-ineligible.
With that in mind, let’s look at a potential special teams difference-maker for each SEC West squad.
Alabama: PK Adam Griffith
At Alabama, the difference between a national title and a disappointing season can come down to a single special teams play. Ask senior kicker Adam Griffith.
Griffith was a freshman backup in 2013 when he missed a 57-yard game-winner in the Iron Bowl and entered history as part of the Kick Six. But more important than Griffith’s difficult try were the three earlier field goals that starter Cade Foster had missed, likely prompting Nick Saban to give the strong-legged freshman a try.
Three years later, Griffith will try to avoid repeating Foster’s mistake. He was 23-for-32 last season, including 7-for-11 on tries of 40 yards or longer. If Griffith can keep his kicks between the uprights, Alabama may end up repeating 2015 instead of 2013.
Arkansas: P Toby Baker
Sometimes, a feared weakness turns into a strength. Such was the case at Arkansas, where former walk-on punter Toby Baker went from a question mark to an exclamation mark.
Baker will be a senior this season, and he hopes to replicate his 2015 performance of a 41.2 yard average with over half of his kicks landing inside the 20-yard line.
Arkansas’ defense fell from 10th in total yardage allowed in 2014 to 58th last year, but if Baker can keep pinning opponents, it bodes well for the Razorbacks’ bowl plans.
Auburn: PK Daniel Carlson
In 2015, seven of Auburn’s 13 games were decided by a single possession. For a program that bent or broke in competitive matchups, a solid field goal kicker is a valuable weapon.
Junior kicker Daniel Carlson is like an atomic bomb. The Lou Groza Award candidate has it all — accuracy (over 85 percent in 2015), distance (8-for-10 on 40-plus-yard tries, including four 50-plus yarders) and consistency (16 in a row at one point in 2015).
Carlson was 16-for-17 in those seven one-score games mentioned above. If he repeats that performance, Auburn will likely do better than post a 3-4 mark in those games and could contend for the West title.
LSU: KR Derrius Guice
As if having Leonard Fournette in the backfield wasn’t enough excitement for Tigers fans, kick returning star Derrius Guice will likely add an unforgettable moment or three in 2016.
Guice backed up Forunette at running back in 2015 but also averaged 23.6 yards per kick return, including one spectacular return against Texas A&M that showcased some of his game-breaking skills.
For LSU, any field will seem like a short field with Fournette, but if Guice can set the Tigers up consistently with good field position, LSU may play its way right into the College Football Playoff.
Ole Miss: PK/P Gary Wunderlich
Wunderlich has shown flashes of stardom, but as a junior, he needs to improve his consistency to make a positive mark on Ole Miss’ 2016 season.
Wunderlich mainly kicks field goals and was a respectable 19-for-25 in 2015 in that area. That said, his misses demonstrated some accuracy issues, including two from inside of 30 yards.
Wunderlich has tons of leg strength. He also doubled as Ole Miss’ “long punter,” backing up Aussie-style starter Will Gleeson. Wunderlich punted nine times, but his 73-yard long demonstrates his ability to get Ole Miss out of a hole.
If he can deliver in the clutch in 2016, Wunderlich can make this season as memorable as last for the Rebels.
Mississippi State: PR Fred Ross
Ross had a career year in 2015, hauling in 88 passes at receiver and generally helping Dak Prescott lead a passing attack which ended up 14th in the nation in yardage per game.
Less obvious, but equally important, Ross uses his skill set to become a dangerous opponent on punt returns. Ross averaged 10.5 yards per return, including a 77-yard touchdown.
Without Prescott in 2016, Ross may have to find his big-play opportunities in the punt return game. If he can do so, it will go a long way toward keeping Mississippi State’s bowl streak alive.
Texas A&M: KR/PR Christian Kirk
Like Ross above, Kirk is a guy who will be counted on in 2016 to do damage in many areas.
Kirk was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2015, but he also starred as a kick returner (19.3 yards per return) and a punt returner (24.4 yards per return with 2 touchdowns).
Kevin Sumlin may try to limit the amount of punishment that Kirk takes on special teams, but he can’t afford to leave the game-breaker off the field.
Whether catching passes, kicks or punts, Kirk is a key to the Aggies’ success in 2016.
Joe Cox is a columnist for Saturday Down South. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers’ near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores.
