CALDWELL, Idaho - One of the keys to the success of The College of Idaho football team has been the play of their special teams. Two seasons ago, the Yotes had an All-America kicker and one of the top coverage units in the NAIA. This spring, the squad led the Frontier Conference in both kickoff and punt return average.
That success should continue, as the squad brings back nearly every specialist from that 4-game spring slate.
In the return game,
Brock Richardson had a dynamic year – earning All-Frontier Conference honors as a true freshman. Richardson averaged 13.3 yards per punt return and added another 27.4 yards each time he brought back a kickoff.
Speedster
Hunter Gilbert will also be in the mix, as will
Caden Cobb, who averaged 29.8 yards per kickoff return as a freshman.
Senior
Hunter Juarez has also been prepping as both a kickoff and punt returner, as has redshirt freshman Devin Fox and true freshman
Gavin Ozuna.
The kicking combination will have a different look this season – as 4-year starting holder,
Connor Richardson, has graduated. The Yotes will turn to quarterback
Ryan Hibbs as their top holder, with receiver
Charlie Maynes also getting reps during the preseason.
C of I returns all three of their long snappers – including incumbent,
Jacob Torres, who has handled long snapping duties each of the past three seasons.
Sophomore
Mikee Farrar saw action during the spring season, while redshirt freshman,
Devon Long, has been pressing for duty in both the long and short-snapping slots.
Both punters return from the spring season – as
Jacob Johnson and
Andrew McKague split time. Johnson got the bulk of the work, averaging 39.3 yards per boot, while McKague averaged 35 yards a punt during his first season with the squad. True freshman,
Gavin Mink, adds depth in the punt game.
The Yotes will also return their top-two kickers – as
Stan Mulderij did the majority of the placekicking, while
Cameron Simons handled the majority of the kickoffs. Mulderij converted 9-of-10 extra point attempts on the short season and added two field goals (a long of 36-yards), while Simons did his job pinning the opposition deep in their own end, starting on average at the 23-yard-line.
The Coyotes open up the 2021 season next Saturday afternoon in Havre, Mont., meeting MSU-Northern at 1 p.m.
