Aug. 26, 2011
DAVIS, Calif. - With football preseason camp underway, UC Davis is preparing for the 2011 schedule and the final year in the Great West Conference. In anticipation of the season opener at Arizona State, the Aggies will have a position-by-position preview leading up to the Sept. 1 kickoff. Today the special teams are featured.
UC Davis was heavily reliant on its kickers last season due largely in part to the experience of veterans Sean Kelley and Colton Schmidt. After multiple 2010 postseason awards and 2011 preseason honors for Kelley and Schmidt, the Aggies expect another strong showing this season. In addition to an outstanding group of kickers, UC Davis is looking for continued development and improvements in kick returns, punt returns and punt coverage.
"Colton Schmidt is one of the best punters in FCS and Sean Kelley is as good as they get when its comes to field goals and PATs," said assistant coach coach Jeff Copp. "We've had great production out of our kickers but we need to improve in our coverage and returns. We're going to be a little more aggressive this year with our returns than we have in the past."
Kelley (5-9, 215), a senior place kicker from Monrovia, was picked as a Special Teams Preseason Co-Player of the Year in the Great West Conference. He also garnered All-Great West Conference First Team honors in 2010 and 2009. Kelley enters the season with 203 total points, needing 71 to eclipse Eddie Loretto (1987-88) for the Aggie career scoring record. He is also climbing the chart in the career record books for field goals made and PATs. Last season, he set a career high for field goals made (13) en route to 65 points. Kelley will continue with field goal, PAT and kickoff duties this season.
Schmidt (5-11, 210), a junior punter from Bakersfield, has been just as impressive after two seasons as the top punter. He was named to the All-Great West Conference Second Team in 2010 after booting 66 punts for 2,559 yards and a 38.8 average. Schmidt broke the UC Davis school record for longest punt, recording a 78-yarder at North Dakota. He also put 18 punts inside opponent's 20-yard line last season while tallying five punts of 50 yards or longer.
Schmidt will work closely with sophomore long snapper, Joey Waters (5-10, 220). He is considered by coaches to be extremely consistent and reliable as a long snapper. Last season Waters also chipped in with four tackles, three of which were solo stops.
In addition to playing quarterback, sophomore Randy Wright (6-3, 202) will serve as the holder for the second consecutive season.
In the return game, sophomore Tom Hemmingsen (5-10, 175) was the primary returner last season. He had 14 returns for 27 yards and a season long 24-yard return against San Diego. Hemmingsen will serve as the main punt returner again this season, while the Aggies expect several other players to contribute. Junior Anthony Soto (5-10, 185) will backup Hemmingsen, followed by true freshman Charles Boyett (6-1, 190) on the depth chart. Soto will be one of the top receivers this season, while Boyett will play as a reserve safety.
Sophomore Jonathan Perkins (5-11, 177) has been the team's best kick returner through fall camp and is currently at number one on the depth chart along side junior Alex Hines (5-10, 178). Both Perkins and Hines play cornerback and Perkins will start for his second consecutive season at that position. Senior Josh Reese (6-0, 196) and Soto could also get thrown in the mix as kick returners at some point in the season.
UC Davis is looking for a host of players to contribute on coverage teams. Juniors Kirk Skierski (6-0, 216) and Byron Gruendl (6-2, 200) were two of the top performers on special teams from last season. Junior transfer Phil Thrappas (5-10, 192) impressed coaches in the spring and established himself as a fixture on coverage packages during the fall. Fans can also expect to see senior Neil Pierce (6-0, 205) and junior Hunter Pahl (6-0, 210) as some of the top tacklers in the special teams units.
Assistant coach Jeff Copp takes over as the special teams coordinator in 2011, in addition to his duties as a safeties coach. With the improving return and coverage teams in 2011, the Aggies are hoping that the battle for field position will compliment some of the top kickers at the FCS level.
Season tickets are on sale and available through the campus Ticket Office at (530) 752-1915 or by visiting ucdavisaggies.com.
Position-By-Position Preview Schedule:
Offensive Line - Monday, Aug. 8
Defensive Line - Wednesday, Aug. 10
Quarterbacks - Friday, Aug. 12
Linebackers - Monday, Aug. 15
Wide Receivers - Wednesday, Aug. 17
Defensive Backs - Friday, Aug. 19
Running Backs - Monday, Aug. 22
Tight Ends - Wednesday, Aug. 24
Special Teams - Friday, Aug. 26
