Tyler Hull to again handle punting duties, Hampton to return kicks, punts
For the majority of spring practice and the preseason, it seemed the kicking competition was strictly between sophomore Landon Ard and redshirt freshman Nick St. Germain.
But over the last week, walk-on true freshman Elliott Fry seems to have snatched the field goal kicking duties away from them.
Head coach Steve Spurrier said Fry was kicking the best and will be getting the nod.
“He’s been kicking a little bit better than the other guys on extra points and field goals,” Spurrier said. “I’m not sure who the kickoff man will be yet.”
Fry seemingly emerged from nowhere, considering he was not listed on the depth chart during spring ball and at the beginning of the preseason.
It remains to be seen during the early part of the season if Spurrier will kick field goals when the score is close or if he will rely on his offense.
Last year’s kicker Adam Yates went 11-17 in his attempts, and there were several times in kicking situations where Spurrier elected to stick with his offense instead.
The other key storyline in South Carolina’s special teams is replacing dynamic punt returner Ace Sanders, who was a 4th-round draft pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanders was explosive, returning two punts for touchdowns last season and nearly breaking away for a few more in some games. His average of 15.3 yards per return, which led the Southeastern Conference, will be difficult to replicate.
Junior cornerback Victor Hampton will take over for Sanders as punt returner, and Spurrier said he has done well with catching balls in the preseason.
Hampton will also be returning kickoffs as last year’s kick returner, junior receiver Bruce Ellington, has been battling a hamstring injury. Ellington may return with Hampton once his health improves.
For now, junior Damiere Byrd will line up next to Hampton. Byrd is the fastest player on the team and could prove to be a weapon if he’s given the chance to return a kick.
Tyler Hull will retain punting duties this season, and Spurrier said he hopes Hull can build on his average return last year of 39.4 yards per punt.
The junior could be instrumental in setting up good field position for the Gamecock offense by pinning opponents deep inside their own territory.
Junior Ryland Culbertson will replace Walker Inabinet as the Gamecocks’ long snapper. True freshman Drew Williams is next in line in case Culbertson cannot get the job done.
The task of place-kicking holder will fall to backup punter Patrick Fish. If Fish is injured, redshirt freshman quarterback Brendan Nosovitch will get his playing time as the holder.
Spurrier acknowledged that special teams could be a big factor against the Tar Heels. He said that the team needs to be ready because North Carolina’s special teams are well coached. One mistake or big return could swing the game in either team’s favor.
“We have to really hustle on punts, kickoffs, block for our punter, things of that nature,” Spurrier said. “It’s going to be a tough battle for us.”