North Carolina State University Athletics
Football Preview, Part Eight: Special Teams
7/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 24, 2003
NC State has become known for its prowess on special teams, and with both kickers, the long snapper and the holder returning, the Pack should enjoy the same success in 2003. There is room for improvement in the kicking game, however.
NC State missed more extra points (52-59) than any other team in the ACC last season and made 10 of its 14 field goal attempts.
Austin Herbert (6-0, 207, Sr.) began the 2002 season handling both the placekicking and punting duties, going five of nine on his field goal attempts, 38-43 on PATs in the first seven games. He was the Pack's only punter last season, ranking sixth in the league in punting with a 37.2 average.
Herbert was forced into handling both ends of the kicking when returning placekicker Adam Kiker (6-0, 185, *Sr.) missed much of preseason and two early games with back spasms. Kiker came back in the third game and handled kickoffs only for five games, before assuming the field goal and point-after duties for the last seven games of the year. Kiker, a preseason candidate for the 2002 Groza Award, was five of seven on his field goal attempts, 14-16 on PATs.
John Deraney (6-4, 208, *Fr.) redshirted the season at placekicker in 2002 and should battle for time this fall.
One of the unsung heroes for the Wolfpack in the past three years has been snapper Danny Young (6-5, 247, Sr.). Young has been a consistent performer as a snapper and blocker and will continue those duties in 2003.
The Pack ranked second nationally in kickoff returns last season, and both of its standout returners, Reid and Golden, will be back as juniors. Reid tallied two kickoff returns for touchdowns last year, averaging 30.3 yards on his 14 returns, while Golden averaged 22.4 yards on 16 returns.
Cotchery was the Pack's leading punt returner in 2003, but with a stockpile of young, speedy players, he could share that role in the year ahead.
