Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
2017 SFA Football Fall Camp Report: Special Teams
8/10/2017 8:21:00 PM | Football
The ‘Jacks practiced in full pads Thursday afternoon for the first time of fall camp, battling the heat in a longer than usual session
The 2017 Stephen F. Austin football season is just around the corner and the Lumberjacks have begun fall camp, beginning the countdown to the 91st season of Lumberjack football in Nacogdoches. Throughout camp, SFAJacks.com will break down each position, today highlighting special teams.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin football team got to experience full pads, oppressive heat and a longer practice Thursday afternoon on the seventh day of fall camp. With a heat index over the 100-degree mark and the Lumberjacks going through drills with full leg pads, the SFA coaching staff got to see which players were ready to withstand the grueling workout.
The seventh practice of preseason camp lasted a little over two hours as the 'Jacks battled the conditions but showed their toughness and grit. The energy was high at the start of practice but the effects of the Texas heat were shown throughout the afternoon as players began to fatigue.
Music rang out through the practice fields behind the SFA Fieldhouse with the usual positional drills, stretching and dynamic warmups taking place, before the 'Jacks lined up in formation to work on field goal kicking. The team then gathered in an oval for the cave drill as the offense and defense went toe-to-toe with each other. Following the cave drill, the team broke out into one-on-one stations before participating in more positional drills.
Thursday's practice was highlighted by the 11-on-11 drives held on the smaller practice field where the 'Jacks were able to make complete tackles for the first time in camp. The sound of shoulder pads being used to their full extent was heard on the field as players got to hit one another in game-like contact. To finish up practice, SFA worked on its goal line situations with both the first and second teams getting reps. Offensive and defensive coaches and players worked hard to run their plays as the defense seemed to get the upper hand in stopping a score.
"It was hot, it was really hot", assistant coach Jeremy Hammock said. "But the guys persevered through. At some point you have to do this, you have to grind them out, and Coach decided today was the day. It was awesome, we got the chance to see guys strap it up and get it on, hopefully everybody came out pretty heathy. It was fun though; it was fun to see."
Special Teams
Special teams will once again be a point of emphasis for the 'Jacks in 2017 and it will be an experienced group, returning all of the major contributors from last season's campaign. SFA brings back all five main starters, while welcoming four freshmen to the group this fall.
Sophomore field goal kicker Storm Ruiz (League City, Texas) highlights the unit after being named All-Southland Conference honorable mention as a true freshman in 2016. Ruiz finished the season with a team-best 80 total points, hitting 13 of his 17 field goal attempts and connecting on all 41 of his point after attempts. He led the league in points per game (7.3) and kicking points per game (7.3), while ranking among the top three in both field goal (76.5%) and PAT (100.0%) percentage. Nationally, Ruiz ranked 27th in field goal percentage and 34th in points per game.
Junior punter and kickoff specialist Caleb Lewallen (Kingwood, Texas) looks to once again handle the kickoff and punting duties for the 'Jacks. Last season, Lewallen averaged 37.1 yards per punt with four punts over 50 yards and 21 punts landing inside the 20, while averaging 59.3 yards per kickoff with five touchbacks. Junior long snapper Chris Wilkerson (Waller, Texas) will once again team up with junior holder and potential starting quarterback Ryan Cottingame (Sunnyvale, Texas), providing a trio with Ruiz that was one of the most effective in the Southland a season ago. Wilkerson and Cottingame were perfect on snaps last year as Cottingame took over the holding duties for the first time in his collegiate career.
SFA also welcomes back both of its returners from 2016, including punt returner and wide receiver Trae Hart (Mesquite, Texas), who was an All-Southland Second Team selection last season and has been named preseason All-Southland First Team as a punt returner and All-Southland Second Team offense as an all-purpose player. Hart averaged 12.4 yards per punt return in 2016 with a 75-yard touchdown against West Alabama, ranking among the top-20 nationally in punt return average. Sophomore kick returner and safety Alize Ward (San Diego, Calif.) was named preseason All-Southland Second Team as a kick returner after taking over kickoff return duties in the second half of the season last year. The California native proved to be a productive asset, averaging 22.6 yards per return on 14 kickoffs with a career long of 64 yards at Incarnate Word.
"It's a good thing that all of our core guys are coming back, kicker, punter, long snapper, both kickoff returner and punt returner", remarked Coach Hammock. "As far as returners go, we've got some dynamic guys out there. We've got some guys that play a lot of ball for us, Alize is an all-conference guy on defense and is probably going to be an all-conference guy in the return game this year. Trae finished the year up ranked in the nation, a great player who obviously is going to perform on offense as well. Having those guys back as leaders is really good for all the young players we got, with them being able to look up to those guys (returning starters). I'm looking forward to the special teams play this year, it should be good, it should be great actually."
Adding more depth to the kicking/punting core, the 'Jacks have brought in four true freshmen who will be challenging Ruiz and Lewallen. Kickers Ryan Harwell (Houston, Texas), Hogan Keasler (Midlothian, Texas) and Kyle Murdock (Leander, Texas) have been working hard in fall camp and are joined by punter Logan Burke (Katy, Texas) as newcomers to SFA's special teams.
Coach Hammock commented on the freshmen after today's practice, "All those guys will get a chance to show what they have. Coach Conque handles the kickers and punters mostly but every day those guys are out here kicking in front of God and everybody like Coach always says. The cream will rise to the top and obviously, those guys will have to show what they can do and the older guys have to push them also. Competition is always a good thing, there is always offense, defense and special teams, so it is important for us to make sure we have the right guys in there."
SFA will have one more practice Friday on the grass fields in helmets, before holding its first full-pad scrimmage Saturday in Homer Bryce Stadium. Tomorrow's practice will get underway at the usual time of 3:45 p.m., while Saturday's scrimmage takes place at 4 p.m.
The 'Jacks open up the 2017 season at SMU on Saturday, Sept. 2, before beginning the home portion of their schedule the following weekend against Southern Utah (Sept. 9).
Season tickets for 2017 SFA Football are on sale through the SFA athletics ticket office and can be purchased here. Available season ticket packages include reserved chair back and reserved bench seats. SFA football season tickets start at only $63 for the general public and $38 for faculty and staff. For more information, call 936-468-5225 (JACK).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete 2017 fall camp coverage.
2017 SFA FOOTBALL FALL CAMP SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 11 – Practice 8 (3:45 p.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Helmets
Saturday, Aug. 12 (Scrimmage One) – Practice 9 (4 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
Sunday, Aug. 13 – Practice 10 (7:30 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Tuesday, Aug. 15 – Practice 11 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 16 – Practice 12 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Thursday, Aug. 17 – Practice 13 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Friday, Aug. 18 – Practice 14 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Helmets
Saturday, Aug. 19 (Scrimmage Two) – Practice 15 (4 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
Monday, Aug. 21 – Practice 16 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Practice 17 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 23 (Scrimmage Three) – Practice 18 (7 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
* – Practice fields located behind the athletics fieldhouse
-SFA-
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin football team got to experience full pads, oppressive heat and a longer practice Thursday afternoon on the seventh day of fall camp. With a heat index over the 100-degree mark and the Lumberjacks going through drills with full leg pads, the SFA coaching staff got to see which players were ready to withstand the grueling workout.
The seventh practice of preseason camp lasted a little over two hours as the 'Jacks battled the conditions but showed their toughness and grit. The energy was high at the start of practice but the effects of the Texas heat were shown throughout the afternoon as players began to fatigue.
Music rang out through the practice fields behind the SFA Fieldhouse with the usual positional drills, stretching and dynamic warmups taking place, before the 'Jacks lined up in formation to work on field goal kicking. The team then gathered in an oval for the cave drill as the offense and defense went toe-to-toe with each other. Following the cave drill, the team broke out into one-on-one stations before participating in more positional drills.
Thursday's practice was highlighted by the 11-on-11 drives held on the smaller practice field where the 'Jacks were able to make complete tackles for the first time in camp. The sound of shoulder pads being used to their full extent was heard on the field as players got to hit one another in game-like contact. To finish up practice, SFA worked on its goal line situations with both the first and second teams getting reps. Offensive and defensive coaches and players worked hard to run their plays as the defense seemed to get the upper hand in stopping a score.
"It was hot, it was really hot", assistant coach Jeremy Hammock said. "But the guys persevered through. At some point you have to do this, you have to grind them out, and Coach decided today was the day. It was awesome, we got the chance to see guys strap it up and get it on, hopefully everybody came out pretty heathy. It was fun though; it was fun to see."
Special Teams
Special teams will once again be a point of emphasis for the 'Jacks in 2017 and it will be an experienced group, returning all of the major contributors from last season's campaign. SFA brings back all five main starters, while welcoming four freshmen to the group this fall.
Sophomore field goal kicker Storm Ruiz (League City, Texas) highlights the unit after being named All-Southland Conference honorable mention as a true freshman in 2016. Ruiz finished the season with a team-best 80 total points, hitting 13 of his 17 field goal attempts and connecting on all 41 of his point after attempts. He led the league in points per game (7.3) and kicking points per game (7.3), while ranking among the top three in both field goal (76.5%) and PAT (100.0%) percentage. Nationally, Ruiz ranked 27th in field goal percentage and 34th in points per game.
Junior punter and kickoff specialist Caleb Lewallen (Kingwood, Texas) looks to once again handle the kickoff and punting duties for the 'Jacks. Last season, Lewallen averaged 37.1 yards per punt with four punts over 50 yards and 21 punts landing inside the 20, while averaging 59.3 yards per kickoff with five touchbacks. Junior long snapper Chris Wilkerson (Waller, Texas) will once again team up with junior holder and potential starting quarterback Ryan Cottingame (Sunnyvale, Texas), providing a trio with Ruiz that was one of the most effective in the Southland a season ago. Wilkerson and Cottingame were perfect on snaps last year as Cottingame took over the holding duties for the first time in his collegiate career.
SFA also welcomes back both of its returners from 2016, including punt returner and wide receiver Trae Hart (Mesquite, Texas), who was an All-Southland Second Team selection last season and has been named preseason All-Southland First Team as a punt returner and All-Southland Second Team offense as an all-purpose player. Hart averaged 12.4 yards per punt return in 2016 with a 75-yard touchdown against West Alabama, ranking among the top-20 nationally in punt return average. Sophomore kick returner and safety Alize Ward (San Diego, Calif.) was named preseason All-Southland Second Team as a kick returner after taking over kickoff return duties in the second half of the season last year. The California native proved to be a productive asset, averaging 22.6 yards per return on 14 kickoffs with a career long of 64 yards at Incarnate Word.
"It's a good thing that all of our core guys are coming back, kicker, punter, long snapper, both kickoff returner and punt returner", remarked Coach Hammock. "As far as returners go, we've got some dynamic guys out there. We've got some guys that play a lot of ball for us, Alize is an all-conference guy on defense and is probably going to be an all-conference guy in the return game this year. Trae finished the year up ranked in the nation, a great player who obviously is going to perform on offense as well. Having those guys back as leaders is really good for all the young players we got, with them being able to look up to those guys (returning starters). I'm looking forward to the special teams play this year, it should be good, it should be great actually."
Adding more depth to the kicking/punting core, the 'Jacks have brought in four true freshmen who will be challenging Ruiz and Lewallen. Kickers Ryan Harwell (Houston, Texas), Hogan Keasler (Midlothian, Texas) and Kyle Murdock (Leander, Texas) have been working hard in fall camp and are joined by punter Logan Burke (Katy, Texas) as newcomers to SFA's special teams.
Coach Hammock commented on the freshmen after today's practice, "All those guys will get a chance to show what they have. Coach Conque handles the kickers and punters mostly but every day those guys are out here kicking in front of God and everybody like Coach always says. The cream will rise to the top and obviously, those guys will have to show what they can do and the older guys have to push them also. Competition is always a good thing, there is always offense, defense and special teams, so it is important for us to make sure we have the right guys in there."
SFA will have one more practice Friday on the grass fields in helmets, before holding its first full-pad scrimmage Saturday in Homer Bryce Stadium. Tomorrow's practice will get underway at the usual time of 3:45 p.m., while Saturday's scrimmage takes place at 4 p.m.
The 'Jacks open up the 2017 season at SMU on Saturday, Sept. 2, before beginning the home portion of their schedule the following weekend against Southern Utah (Sept. 9).
Season tickets for 2017 SFA Football are on sale through the SFA athletics ticket office and can be purchased here. Available season ticket packages include reserved chair back and reserved bench seats. SFA football season tickets start at only $63 for the general public and $38 for faculty and staff. For more information, call 936-468-5225 (JACK).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete 2017 fall camp coverage.
2017 SFA FOOTBALL FALL CAMP SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 11 – Practice 8 (3:45 p.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Helmets
Saturday, Aug. 12 (Scrimmage One) – Practice 9 (4 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
Sunday, Aug. 13 – Practice 10 (7:30 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Tuesday, Aug. 15 – Practice 11 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 16 – Practice 12 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Thursday, Aug. 17 – Practice 13 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Friday, Aug. 18 – Practice 14 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Helmets
Saturday, Aug. 19 (Scrimmage Two) – Practice 15 (4 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
Monday, Aug. 21 – Practice 16 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Practice 17 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 23 (Scrimmage Three) – Practice 18 (7 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
* – Practice fields located behind the athletics fieldhouse
-SFA-
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