Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Camp Position Breakdown: Special Teams
8/25/2019 12:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A new NCAA rule in 2018 drastically changed how Middle Tennessee handles part of its special teams.
The NCAA's kickoff fair catch rule, where teams can signal a fair catch on a kickoff and take the ball at the 25, almost took out MT's need to return kicks completely. The Blue Raiders only returned four kicks in 2018 compared to 25 in 2017, making the need for a dynamite kick returner a little less necessary as compared to one who has sure hands.
"The top five teams in the country averaged starting on the 28 or 29-yard line," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "If we fair catch it and start on the 25 every time, we'll be up there towards the top in the country. We'll play that game to game with how we want to approach it."
As for the ones kicking the ball for Middle Tennessee, a competition brewed this offseason for the starting punter spot with Matt Bonadies exhausting his eligibility.
Redshirt junior Matthew Stephenson and newcomers Kyle Ulbrich (R-So., Valparaiso transfer) and Matthew Rigney (Fr.) each rotated while auditioning for the job, and Stockstill liked what he saw out of all three.
"All three of those guys have really punted well," he said. "That's probably as consistent a group as we've had in a few years."
While the Blue Raiders had to find a new punter this offseason, they didn't have the same need at placekicker.
Redshirt junior Crews Holt had a breakout season in 2018, tying the school record in field goal makes by going 18-24, including a perfect 17-17 from inside 40 yards. He's carried that confidence into this year's fall camp, going a combined 12-14 in the two scrimmages with multiple makes of more than 50 yards.
"I've been really pleased with our kicking game," Stockstill said. "Crews has been really good, really consistent in camp."
Here are MT's special teamers:
Placekicker/Kickoff
Crews Holt, R-Jr., 5-11, 181
• Tied a single-season program record in field goal makes after going 18-24 in 2018
• Perfect 16-16 on field goals under 40 yards in 2018
• Nominee for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
• Brentwood, Tennessee native (Ravenwood High School)
Colin Figenscher, R-Fr., 5-10, 170
• Transfer from Daytona State College (FL), where he played soccer
• Ranked No. 11 nationally in high school by Kohl's Kicking.
• DeLand, Florida native
Robert Payne, Fr., 5-11, 195
• All-region as a senior
• Signal Mountain, Tennessee native (Signal Mountain Middle High School)
Punter
Kyle Ulbrich, R-So., 6-0, 190
• Valparaiso University (IN) transfer
• Averaged 37 yards on 32 punts in 2018 with a long of 55 yards
• Mentor, Ohio native
Matthew Stephenson, R-Jr., 5-8, 213
• Served as team's holder in 2018
• Punted 5 times in 2018, averaging 40 yards with a long of 46 and downing 4 inside the 20
• Madison, Alabama native
Matthew Rigney, Fr., 6-4, 191
• Preferred walk-on from Independence High School (TN)
• Averaged 41 yards per punt his senior season of high school
• Born in Newcastle, Australia
Long snapper
Russ Hiett, R-Jr., 6-0, 221
• Team's long snapper on field goals and extra points in 2018
• Kennesaw, Georgia native
Holder
Matthew Stephenson
Chase Cunningham
Punt returner
Reed Blankenship, Jr., 6-1, 196
• Returned 2 punts for 35 yards in 2018
• Preseason All-C-USA at safety
• Athens, Alabama native
Ty Lee, Sr., 5-9, 186
• Returned 5 punts for 45 yards in 2018; long of 25 yards
• 3rd all-time in receptions, 5th in receiving yards and 3rd in touchdown receptions at MT
• Moultrie, Georgia native
Kick returner
Ty Lee, Sr., 5-9, 186
• Returned 4 kicks for 76 yards in 2018
• Was the only player to return a kickoff in 2018 for the Blue Raiders
Zack Dobson, So., 5-8, 164
• 214 rushing yards, 15 receptions, 171 receiving yards, 4 TDs in 2018
• Knoxville native (Fulton High School)
The NCAA's kickoff fair catch rule, where teams can signal a fair catch on a kickoff and take the ball at the 25, almost took out MT's need to return kicks completely. The Blue Raiders only returned four kicks in 2018 compared to 25 in 2017, making the need for a dynamite kick returner a little less necessary as compared to one who has sure hands.
"The top five teams in the country averaged starting on the 28 or 29-yard line," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "If we fair catch it and start on the 25 every time, we'll be up there towards the top in the country. We'll play that game to game with how we want to approach it."
As for the ones kicking the ball for Middle Tennessee, a competition brewed this offseason for the starting punter spot with Matt Bonadies exhausting his eligibility.
Redshirt junior Matthew Stephenson and newcomers Kyle Ulbrich (R-So., Valparaiso transfer) and Matthew Rigney (Fr.) each rotated while auditioning for the job, and Stockstill liked what he saw out of all three.
"All three of those guys have really punted well," he said. "That's probably as consistent a group as we've had in a few years."
While the Blue Raiders had to find a new punter this offseason, they didn't have the same need at placekicker.
Redshirt junior Crews Holt had a breakout season in 2018, tying the school record in field goal makes by going 18-24, including a perfect 17-17 from inside 40 yards. He's carried that confidence into this year's fall camp, going a combined 12-14 in the two scrimmages with multiple makes of more than 50 yards.
"I've been really pleased with our kicking game," Stockstill said. "Crews has been really good, really consistent in camp."
Here are MT's special teamers:
Placekicker/Kickoff
Crews Holt, R-Jr., 5-11, 181
• Tied a single-season program record in field goal makes after going 18-24 in 2018
• Perfect 16-16 on field goals under 40 yards in 2018
• Nominee for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
• Brentwood, Tennessee native (Ravenwood High School)
Colin Figenscher, R-Fr., 5-10, 170
• Transfer from Daytona State College (FL), where he played soccer
• Ranked No. 11 nationally in high school by Kohl's Kicking.
• DeLand, Florida native
Robert Payne, Fr., 5-11, 195
• All-region as a senior
• Signal Mountain, Tennessee native (Signal Mountain Middle High School)
Punter
Kyle Ulbrich, R-So., 6-0, 190
• Valparaiso University (IN) transfer
• Averaged 37 yards on 32 punts in 2018 with a long of 55 yards
• Mentor, Ohio native
Matthew Stephenson, R-Jr., 5-8, 213
• Served as team's holder in 2018
• Punted 5 times in 2018, averaging 40 yards with a long of 46 and downing 4 inside the 20
• Madison, Alabama native
Matthew Rigney, Fr., 6-4, 191
• Preferred walk-on from Independence High School (TN)
• Averaged 41 yards per punt his senior season of high school
• Born in Newcastle, Australia
Long snapper
Russ Hiett, R-Jr., 6-0, 221
• Team's long snapper on field goals and extra points in 2018
• Kennesaw, Georgia native
Holder
Matthew Stephenson
Chase Cunningham
Punt returner
Reed Blankenship, Jr., 6-1, 196
• Returned 2 punts for 35 yards in 2018
• Preseason All-C-USA at safety
• Athens, Alabama native
Ty Lee, Sr., 5-9, 186
• Returned 5 punts for 45 yards in 2018; long of 25 yards
• 3rd all-time in receptions, 5th in receiving yards and 3rd in touchdown receptions at MT
• Moultrie, Georgia native
Kick returner
Ty Lee, Sr., 5-9, 186
• Returned 4 kicks for 76 yards in 2018
• Was the only player to return a kickoff in 2018 for the Blue Raiders
Zack Dobson, So., 5-8, 164
• 214 rushing yards, 15 receptions, 171 receiving yards, 4 TDs in 2018
• Knoxville native (Fulton High School)
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