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The University of Utah Athletics
The Lowdown: Special Teams
6/8/2018 10:07 AM | Football
This summer, UtahUtes.com will feature "The Lowdown" on each position group on the field. With two All-Americans returning to the gridiron this fall for the kicking corps and some serious speed coming back as returners, it is sure to be a standout season for special teams.
THE LOWDOWN: KICKING
The Utes are heading into the 2018 season full speed ahead as the only team in the country with both a Ray Guy Award and Lou Groza Award winner on its roster.
Seniors Matt Gay (K) and Mitch Wishnowsky (P) will look to top their already decorated careers as Utah's starting kicker and punter in 2018.
2016 Ray Guy Award winner, two time Ray Guy Award finalist and two-time All-American Wishnowsky (6-2, 220, Sr.) has ranked among the nation's leaders both seasons with the Utes in punt average, net punting and punts inside the 20.
Gay (6-0, 230, Sr.) won the 2017 Lou Groza Award and was a consensus All-American in his first season of NCAA football. Gay led the nation in field goals attempted and mad, field goals made per game and 50+ yard field goals.
"Having both the best punter and best place kicker in the country is an incredible advantage for us," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Mitch plays a major role in our defensive success with his ability to flip the field and pin opponents deep inside their own territory and Matt's accuracy and phenomenal range make him a huge offensive weapon for us."
The future of Utah's kicking game is in good hands with sophomore Chayden Johnston (6-1, 160), who is talented enough to be starting at the majority of the Power 5 schools in the country.
THE LOWDOWN: SNAPPING
Noah Rodriguez-Trammell (6-2, 216, So.) came into fall camp in 2017 as a newcomer and halfway through the season emerged as Utah's new starting snapper. The Van Nuys, Calif., native played in eight games in 2017 after being ranked as the No. 1 snapper in California and No. 8 in the nation coming out of high school.
THE LOWDOWN: KICK/PUNT RETURNS
Utah graduated one of the best punt return specialists in the country in Boobie Hobbs this past season, but with Britain Covey returning from his church mission, the Utah return specialists won't miss a beat.
"He's got incredible change of direction, he maintains speed, he almost loses no speed when he changes direction," offensive coordinator Troy Taylor said this spring.
Covey burst on the scene in 2015 as a freshman, earning Freshman All-American and All-Pac-12 honorable mention return specialist. He averaged 11.7 yards per punt return (21 for 246 yards) to rank second in the Pac-12 and 17th in the nation in 2015, adding seven kick returns for 169 yards (24.1 average).
Joining Covey this fall in the return unit will be Demari Simpkins, Jameson Field and Julian Blackmon, all getting critical experience in 2017.
Simpkins was Utah's leading kickoff returner in 2017, grabbing nine for 207 yards (23.0 average). He had a career-long 53-yard return against Washington State and a career-high 72 yards on returns against Oregon (3 returns).
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THE LOWDOWN: KICKING
The Utes are heading into the 2018 season full speed ahead as the only team in the country with both a Ray Guy Award and Lou Groza Award winner on its roster.
Seniors Matt Gay (K) and Mitch Wishnowsky (P) will look to top their already decorated careers as Utah's starting kicker and punter in 2018.
2016 Ray Guy Award winner, two time Ray Guy Award finalist and two-time All-American Wishnowsky (6-2, 220, Sr.) has ranked among the nation's leaders both seasons with the Utes in punt average, net punting and punts inside the 20.
Gay (6-0, 230, Sr.) won the 2017 Lou Groza Award and was a consensus All-American in his first season of NCAA football. Gay led the nation in field goals attempted and mad, field goals made per game and 50+ yard field goals.
"Having both the best punter and best place kicker in the country is an incredible advantage for us," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Mitch plays a major role in our defensive success with his ability to flip the field and pin opponents deep inside their own territory and Matt's accuracy and phenomenal range make him a huge offensive weapon for us."
The future of Utah's kicking game is in good hands with sophomore Chayden Johnston (6-1, 160), who is talented enough to be starting at the majority of the Power 5 schools in the country.
THE LOWDOWN: SNAPPING
Noah Rodriguez-Trammell (6-2, 216, So.) came into fall camp in 2017 as a newcomer and halfway through the season emerged as Utah's new starting snapper. The Van Nuys, Calif., native played in eight games in 2017 after being ranked as the No. 1 snapper in California and No. 8 in the nation coming out of high school.
THE LOWDOWN: KICK/PUNT RETURNS
Utah graduated one of the best punt return specialists in the country in Boobie Hobbs this past season, but with Britain Covey returning from his church mission, the Utah return specialists won't miss a beat.
"He's got incredible change of direction, he maintains speed, he almost loses no speed when he changes direction," offensive coordinator Troy Taylor said this spring.
Covey burst on the scene in 2015 as a freshman, earning Freshman All-American and All-Pac-12 honorable mention return specialist. He averaged 11.7 yards per punt return (21 for 246 yards) to rank second in the Pac-12 and 17th in the nation in 2015, adding seven kick returns for 169 yards (24.1 average).
Joining Covey this fall in the return unit will be Demari Simpkins, Jameson Field and Julian Blackmon, all getting critical experience in 2017.
Simpkins was Utah's leading kickoff returner in 2017, grabbing nine for 207 yards (23.0 average). He had a career-long 53-yard return against Washington State and a career-high 72 yards on returns against Oregon (3 returns).
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Players Mentioned
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