Austin Peay possesses one the most exciting players in the Ohio Valley Conference in return specialist Terrence Holt, who not only has broken Governors records in his first two seasons but OVC marks as well.
Holt, in fact, opened the season a year ago by breaking the OVC record for single-game kickoff return-yardage record with 250 against North Dakota State and it continued from there as he finished with 1285 returns yards, breaking his own OVC single-season yards mark.
Despite owning one of the most dynamic players in school history, the preseason talk about special teams has not been centered around the electric Holt, who handles both kickoff and punt return duty. No, this year it has been about a kicker.
Stephen Stansell, from McMinn County, could end an age-old Governors problem-placekicking. Austin Peay's record for single-season field goals is 14, set by Tom McMillan in 1987. Prior to that, the Governors also had a dependable field goal kicker in Brian Yarbrough.
But since those days only one APSU kicker has tallied as many as 10 field goals-that came in 1994 (David Young). At times, the kicking game simply has been an adventure.
Meanwhile, Stansell, kicking without a tee, connected on 11 of 14 field goals as a senior at McMinn County and all 20 extra-point attempts. Then he took first place in the kickoff category at the third annual National Kicking Combine Series (40 kickers competed) while finishing second in the field goal competition. Held in Houston, Texas, he beat 15 other kickers in the finals to win the kickoff competition, averaging 70 yards per kickoff, and fell one field goal short in losing that competition.
Last season, incumbent kicker Isaac Ziolkowski injured his kicking leg during preseason and never really regained his 2007 form. In fact, a trio of APSU kickers combined on 12 of 20 field goals but just 12 of 19 extra points.
But just as importantly, the Governors kickoff/kickoff coverage team struggled as well. APSU kickers averaged just 50.3 yards per kickoff while the opponents averaged 56.6 yards per kickoff. As a result, the Governors, with one of the nation's top kick returners, averaged starting at their own 37 yard line.
The opponents? APSU opponents' average starting point after kickoff was its own 42-yard line. What it meant was the opposition only needed to get two first-downs to near scoring range.
"Stansell has been a really good find," APSU coach Rick Christophel said. "That has helped our kids from a confidence standpoint.
"We certainly want to see our field goal and extra point kicking improve but just as importantly we have to improve our kickoffs. We play field position and if you can keep an offense on their end of the field a lot, you have a chance to shorten field and make some plays...and score some points."
The other kicking component is punter Ryan Key, who averaged 37.8 yards per punt a year ago, a yard less than he averaged as a redshirt freshman in 2007.
"That's another area that we have to do better-be more consistent," Christophel said. "
Ryan has the talent but he was too up and down last season."
Long snapper Nick Newsome, a find a year ago, is back along with his backup Brad Williams, who handled the duties in 2007. Defensive back Jay Courtney took over the holding duties last season for the extra points and field goals and is expected to handle those chores again in 2009.
The Govs also will attempt to find a player or players who can serve as a quality back up to Holt in the kick return game. Holt suffered a leg injury against Southeast Missouri in the 2008 season finale. Holt's absence on a pair of late-game kick returns was noticeable.
"When you have a good kick return game it can change field position," Christophel said. "Sometimes you take someone like Terrence for granted. When he got hurt against SEMO, it certainly was a factor.
"The thing about Terrence is when he got here we told him to just return the football, don't worry about making a mistake. He has done that. In his first two seasons he has been aggressive...and that is what you have to be to be a great kick returner."
-AP-
Courtesy: Robert Smith/The Leaf-Chronicle
