Kicking game source of confidence for Huntingdon
Head Coach Mike Turk on the second day of preseason camp: "We're trying to establish some consistency, which is hard to do at this point because we're throwing new things at them every day. Instead of being second nature and just being able to react, there is a lot of thinking going on out there right now.
"That's pretty standard for this time of year. But it's something we can work on and do a better job of by studying and absorbing the information. We're going to get reps and we're going to get better, it's just a matter of when everything starts to click. We need it to start clicking soon."
Position Spotlight – Special Teams
Projected Starters: PK – Chase Young (Sr.), P – Bryce Bump (Sr.), LS – Jacob Holman (Jr.) SS -- Jacob Munn (Jr.)
A Closer Look: With experience returning at each position in the kicking game, the Hawks have high expectations for the unit.
Senior Chase Young returns for his fourth season at placekicker and senior Bryce Bump enters his third season as punter. Juniors Jacob Holman and Jacob Munn return to handle the snapping duties.
Young is a three-time All-Conference selection and has led the USA South Athletic Conference in points scored by a kicker in each of his three seasons. As a freshman, Young set the USA South and Huntingdon records for extra points in a season (63). He was 49-for-49 on extra points last season and 13-for-16 on field goals. He enters his senior season as the USA South's career-leader with 167 extra points on 174 attempts and holds Huntingdon's career records for extra points made and attempted and field goals made (26) and attempted (34).
Bump enters his senior season ranked fifth in the Huntingdon record book for punts (69), punting yards (2,532) and punting average (36.7). Bump had three punts of 50 or more yards last season, including a season-long of 56 yards, and placed seven punts inside the 20-yard line.
Holman emerged as the Hawks' snapper on extra points and field goals last season and Munn handled the long snaps on punts.
Turk on the experience of the unit: "Both of our snappers and our kicker and punter are back. That is comforting. We have holes to fill on this team, but not in this area. We're fortunate to have all of them back this year."
Turk on the placekicking and punting positions: "Chase and Bryce are both guys who have worked hard and have improved each season they have been here. Chase has been a solid field goal and extra point guy for us and last year, he was money. He missed very few kicks, but he is a perfectionist and he doesn't want to miss any. With his attitude and work ethic, I expect him to be better this year than he was last year.
"We have high expectations for Bryce this season. He has punted for us the past two years and has improved each year. This will be his senior year and his last opportunity to help the team. I know he has worked hard and he wants this to be his best season yet."
Turk on the long snapper positions: "Munn and Holman snapped for us last year. Munn handles the snaps on punts and Holman snaps for us on extra points and field goals. They are both great kids, they take a lot of pride in what they do and they're both very good at what they do."
Next Practice: The Hawks return to the field at 9 a.m. on Friday for the first practice in shoulder pads and helmets. Practices are open to the public.