Hidden gems on special teams
Friday, February 17, 2012
Many of the players below are relative unknowns on the national landscape, but contributed mightily as return specialists. For the most part, as freshmen and sophomores, they were too far down the depth chart to make an impact on offense, but proved to be valuable weapons with the return units. Wisconsin’s Justin Abbrederis, who leads off this alphabetical list, would be an exception in that he became a familiar name on offense and starred in a couple of high profile and nationally televised games. I include him because he did it all as a non-scholarship player who remained largely under the radar until late in the season.
At least a couple of other players should emerge to make a difference for their team at a running back or receiver in 2012. One thing is for sure: they all have made nice contributions while awaiting their opportunity.
Justin Abbrederis, Wisconsin, WR
With Montee Ball, Russell Wilson and Nick Toon, there was little elbow room for anybody else to attract headlines on offense. Abbrederis, who enjoyed much more overall success than anybody on this list, had a few headline-type performances – and he did so as a non-scholarship player. Making payments is no longer a concern as he signed his scholarship papers in January. That bit of good news followed a season in which he had 933 yards receiving, 689 on kick returns and 315 as a punt returner. Throw in 62 yards rushing and Abbrederis totaled 1,999 yards and ranked 22nd nationally with an average of 143 yards per game. He was at his best when it mattered most with a combined 563 yards in the Big Ten title game against Michigan State and the Rose Bowl versus Oregon. Abbrederis, who had 9 touchdowns and was third in the country averaging 15.8 yards per punt return, could be on his way to a special season as a junior.
Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska, WR
Abdullah fielded first kicks during the Cornhuskers’ second game against Fresno State. He returned the opening kickoff 57 yards and, in the fourth quarter, Abdullah topped that with a 100-yard return for a TD to give Nebraska a little breathing room in what was a two-point game. He finished ninth nationally with an average of 29.4 yards per kick return and also averaged 7.1 yards on 15 punt returns. As a running back, Abdullah, who will be a sophomore, was third on the team in carries (42), yards (150) and TDs (3). Behind workhorse Rex Burkhead and running QB Taylor Martinez, there were precious few opportunities to carry the ball. That is something could change in 2012 if for no other reason than to spell Burkhead, who had 284 carries last season.
Andre Debose, Florida, WR
An exceptional blend of speed and quickness, Dubose had only 36 touches last season, but that was more than enough to display how explosive he can be. Among his 16 receptions on the season (432 yards, 27.0 avg.) were four that covered at least 64 yards. Debose also averaged 26.0 yards on 19 kick returns with three covering at least 50 yards, including a 99-yard TD in the Gator Bowl against Ohio State. Expect plenty more bursts of speed as a junior in 2012.
Jeremy Deering, Rutgers, RB
There is not much Deering did not do in his first two seasons with the Scarlet Knights. He just did not spend a lot of time doing one thing in particular. Between rushing, receiving and special teams, Deering totaled more than 1,400 yards. He made his debut returning kicks last season and was an instant hit with an average of 31.2 yards to rank fourth nationally. Included was a 98-yard KOR against USF to spark a comeback win. After carrying the ball 71 times in the final six games of his freshman season in 2010, Deering was not much of a factor rushing in 2011 finishing with 47-169-0. It will be interesting to see how new coach Kyle Flood handles Deering.
Josh Evans, Western Kentucky, RB
Evans had only 18 kick returns as a freshman, but he more than made the most of them. He finished second nationally with an average of 32.2 yards per KOR. He took one back 90 yards for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee and had three other returns in excess of 40 yards. After carrying the ball only eight times in 2011, Evans will be part of the mix when it comes to replacing All-American running back Bobby Rainey.
Jeremy Gallon, Michigan, WR
It is hard to imagine Gallon’s stock not rising in Year 2 of the Brady Hoke regime in Ann Arbor. A solid kick returner in the second half of Rich Rodriguez’s final season, Gallon became the Wolverines’ primary punt returner last year while developing into a solid target for Denard Robinson. Gallon was one of only 27 players nationally to average at least 10 yards per punt return (10.1) while placing second on the team to Junior Hemingway in receptions (31) and receiving yards (453). With Hemingway departed, Gallon will have a chance to become UM’s primary receiver.
Rannell Hall, UCF, WR
Coach George O’Leary could not get the freshman much time with the offense last season, but he found a spot for Hall returning kicks starting with the Knights’ sixth game against SMU. Four times in the next five weeks, Hall averaged at least 27.6 yards per KOR en route to finishing the season fifth in the country with an average of 31.0 on 23 returns. The hope in Orlando is that Hall will learn the offense and contribute at receiver as well as a kick return specialist during his sophomore season.
Raheem Mostert, Purdue, WR
Mostert did not field his first kick until the Boilermakers’ fourth game, yet led the nation with an average of 33.5 yards per return as a freshman. While Mostert had a 99-yard return for a touchdown in the Little Caesars Bowl against Western Michigan, it was his effort against Wisconsin on Nov. 5 that opened eyes. Returns of 74, 49 and 40 yards were part of a day in which he set the Purdue single-game mark of 206 kick-return yards. A track star, Mostert is listed as a receiver, but did not catch a single pass last season. He was 16-108-2 rushing and is likely to see more touches on offense in 2012 as he becomes more comfortable with coach Danny Hope’s system.
Darryl Surgent, La.-Lafayette, WR
Surgent capped his sophomore season with a look-at-me type performance in the New Orleans Bowl against San Diego State. He had 98 yards on kick returns, 93 yards receiving and 92 yards on punt returns. That’s 283 yards on only 10 touches, one of which was an 87-yard PR for a touchdown. Surgent, who was 28-518-6 receiving (18.5 yards per catch), was 13th in the country with an average of 11.9 yards per punt return and averaged 126 all-purpose yards per contest.
T.J. Thorpe, North Carolina, WR
With a nice inventory of young glamour position players, Larry Fedora has a lot to look forward in his first season as coach at Chapel Hill. Thorpe caught only two passes last season while making his mark as a kick returner, averaging 26.7 yards with a 100-yards TD at Clemson. While Thorpe only averaged 20 yards per return during UNC’s final five games, it is clear interim coach Everett Winters found a weapon on special teams last season. With the field a little less crowded at receiver in 2012, Thorpe could also make a mark with the offense during his sophomore season.
Many of the players below are relative unknowns on the national landscape, but contributed mightily as return specialists. For the most part, as freshmen and sophomores, they were too far down the depth chart to make an impact on offense, but proved to be valuable weapons with the return units. Wisconsin’s Justin Abbrederis, who leads off this alphabetical list, would be an exception in that he became a familiar name on offense and starred in a couple of high profile and nationally televised games. I include him because he did it all as a non-scholarship player who remained largely under the radar until late in the season.
At least a couple of other players should emerge to make a difference for their team at a running back or receiver in 2012. One thing is for sure: they all have made nice contributions while awaiting their opportunity.
Justin Abbrederis, Wisconsin, WR
With Montee Ball, Russell Wilson and Nick Toon, there was little elbow room for anybody else to attract headlines on offense. Abbrederis, who enjoyed much more overall success than anybody on this list, had a few headline-type performances – and he did so as a non-scholarship player. Making payments is no longer a concern as he signed his scholarship papers in January. That bit of good news followed a season in which he had 933 yards receiving, 689 on kick returns and 315 as a punt returner. Throw in 62 yards rushing and Abbrederis totaled 1,999 yards and ranked 22nd nationally with an average of 143 yards per game. He was at his best when it mattered most with a combined 563 yards in the Big Ten title game against Michigan State and the Rose Bowl versus Oregon. Abbrederis, who had 9 touchdowns and was third in the country averaging 15.8 yards per punt return, could be on his way to a special season as a junior.
Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska, WR
Abdullah fielded first kicks during the Cornhuskers’ second game against Fresno State. He returned the opening kickoff 57 yards and, in the fourth quarter, Abdullah topped that with a 100-yard return for a TD to give Nebraska a little breathing room in what was a two-point game. He finished ninth nationally with an average of 29.4 yards per kick return and also averaged 7.1 yards on 15 punt returns. As a running back, Abdullah, who will be a sophomore, was third on the team in carries (42), yards (150) and TDs (3). Behind workhorse Rex Burkhead and running QB Taylor Martinez, there were precious few opportunities to carry the ball. That is something could change in 2012 if for no other reason than to spell Burkhead, who had 284 carries last season.
Andre Debose, Florida, WR
An exceptional blend of speed and quickness, Dubose had only 36 touches last season, but that was more than enough to display how explosive he can be. Among his 16 receptions on the season (432 yards, 27.0 avg.) were four that covered at least 64 yards. Debose also averaged 26.0 yards on 19 kick returns with three covering at least 50 yards, including a 99-yard TD in the Gator Bowl against Ohio State. Expect plenty more bursts of speed as a junior in 2012.
Jeremy Deering, Rutgers, RB
There is not much Deering did not do in his first two seasons with the Scarlet Knights. He just did not spend a lot of time doing one thing in particular. Between rushing, receiving and special teams, Deering totaled more than 1,400 yards. He made his debut returning kicks last season and was an instant hit with an average of 31.2 yards to rank fourth nationally. Included was a 98-yard KOR against USF to spark a comeback win. After carrying the ball 71 times in the final six games of his freshman season in 2010, Deering was not much of a factor rushing in 2011 finishing with 47-169-0. It will be interesting to see how new coach Kyle Flood handles Deering.
Josh Evans, Western Kentucky, RB
Evans had only 18 kick returns as a freshman, but he more than made the most of them. He finished second nationally with an average of 32.2 yards per KOR. He took one back 90 yards for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee and had three other returns in excess of 40 yards. After carrying the ball only eight times in 2011, Evans will be part of the mix when it comes to replacing All-American running back Bobby Rainey.
Jeremy Gallon, Michigan, WR
It is hard to imagine Gallon’s stock not rising in Year 2 of the Brady Hoke regime in Ann Arbor. A solid kick returner in the second half of Rich Rodriguez’s final season, Gallon became the Wolverines’ primary punt returner last year while developing into a solid target for Denard Robinson. Gallon was one of only 27 players nationally to average at least 10 yards per punt return (10.1) while placing second on the team to Junior Hemingway in receptions (31) and receiving yards (453). With Hemingway departed, Gallon will have a chance to become UM’s primary receiver.
Rannell Hall, UCF, WR
Coach George O’Leary could not get the freshman much time with the offense last season, but he found a spot for Hall returning kicks starting with the Knights’ sixth game against SMU. Four times in the next five weeks, Hall averaged at least 27.6 yards per KOR en route to finishing the season fifth in the country with an average of 31.0 on 23 returns. The hope in Orlando is that Hall will learn the offense and contribute at receiver as well as a kick return specialist during his sophomore season.
Raheem Mostert, Purdue, WR
Mostert did not field his first kick until the Boilermakers’ fourth game, yet led the nation with an average of 33.5 yards per return as a freshman. While Mostert had a 99-yard return for a touchdown in the Little Caesars Bowl against Western Michigan, it was his effort against Wisconsin on Nov. 5 that opened eyes. Returns of 74, 49 and 40 yards were part of a day in which he set the Purdue single-game mark of 206 kick-return yards. A track star, Mostert is listed as a receiver, but did not catch a single pass last season. He was 16-108-2 rushing and is likely to see more touches on offense in 2012 as he becomes more comfortable with coach Danny Hope’s system.
Darryl Surgent, La.-Lafayette, WR
Surgent capped his sophomore season with a look-at-me type performance in the New Orleans Bowl against San Diego State. He had 98 yards on kick returns, 93 yards receiving and 92 yards on punt returns. That’s 283 yards on only 10 touches, one of which was an 87-yard PR for a touchdown. Surgent, who was 28-518-6 receiving (18.5 yards per catch), was 13th in the country with an average of 11.9 yards per punt return and averaged 126 all-purpose yards per contest.
T.J. Thorpe, North Carolina, WR
With a nice inventory of young glamour position players, Larry Fedora has a lot to look forward in his first season as coach at Chapel Hill. Thorpe caught only two passes last season while making his mark as a kick returner, averaging 26.7 yards with a 100-yards TD at Clemson. While Thorpe only averaged 20 yards per return during UNC’s final five games, it is clear interim coach Everett Winters found a weapon on special teams last season. With the field a little less crowded at receiver in 2012, Thorpe could also make a mark with the offense during his sophomore season.
