VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Antonio Goss

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the seventh part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2022 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle returners, kickers, punters and long snappers with the assistance of special teams coordinator Antonio Goss.

One of Carson-Newman's strengths last year was its kickoff return team.  That Eagles averaged 25.4 yards per return to rank fifth in the nation while DeQuan Dudley earned all-region honors after brining back two 100-yard returns with a 33.5 yard per return average – the third highest for a single season in school history.

However, of the 49 kicks that Carson-Newman returned a year ago, only three return. 

"It's truly a brand new season and it starts with the team," Goss said. "They have to believe in one another to do their part. We have a bunch of guys who want to play ball and get out there on the field. Those kicking units are an opportunity to take advantage of it."

Technically Jelan Pearson, Andrew Coulter and Korey Waters all returned kicks last year. However, for all three the stats came as a result of picking up squibs. 

Pearson is penciled in to handle those duties this season along with UVA transfer Major Williams.

"What I like about our returners isn't just our guys who can return the kick," Goss said. "But guys who are willing to go out there and sacrifice their bodies to make the block to spring the guy who is returning the kick."

While there is a dearth of returning kick returners, Carson-Newman has plenty of returning kickers. 

First there's Christian Erwin. 

A touchback machine, Erwin was responsible in part for Carson-Newman having one of the best kick-coverage units in the country.  Of his 29 kickoffs, 11 went for touchbacks and opponent's averaged a starting drive position of their own 25 following his kicks.  He made 4-of-12 field goals on the year, including a long of 45 yards against Barton.  He was 2-for-8 on kicks of 42 yards or longer.  Erwin made 12-of-13 point after attempt conversions. 

"It's always about the next kick," Goss said. "He will be a better kicker because the work he puts in. So while he had some frustrating moments, it hasn't affected his work and that will come for him."

Erwin had some hard-luck last fall too. A long field goal at Newberry seemed to have gone between the uprights but crossed the plane well above the extension of the uprights and was ruled to have been missed.  Of his eight field goal misses, three glanced off an upright. 

Erwin is more than capable.  After drilling game-tying and winning 40+ yard field goals in Carson-Newman football's 40+37 overtime win over UVA Wise, Eagle freshman kicker Christian Erwin was named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Erwin connected on 4-of-5 field goal attempts and all three of his extra points.  In his second collegiate kick, he booted a 49-yard field goal through with 31 seconds left in regulation to force overtime (his previous long in high school was 45 yards).

He is joined by Nate Craft. After two years out of football, Carson-Newman's leading scorer from 2019 comes back to the program. 

The freshman kicker hit 10-of-16 field goals and all 56 of his extra points.  A two-time SAC Special Teams Player of the Week, Craft becomes the first special teamer to be honored twice in one season with player of the week honors since kicker Carson Wise was lauded three times during the 2015. Against Mars Hill, Craft started the scoring by launching a 50-yard field goal through the uprights into a breeze on the Eagles' opening possession.  The 50-yard field goal was the first by a Carson-Newman kicker since Curt Duncan's school-record 54-yarder against Tusculum in 2012.

Michael Harrah returns to handle punts. He had an 81 yard punt that goes down as the second-longest in program history.  Of his 47 boots, only one went for a touchback.  He had four on the plus side of 50 yards, 13 that were fair caught and 12 that were pinned inside the opposition's 20. 

"The sky is the limit," Goss said. "They obviously have to believe in themselves. It's been fun in practice trying to put the heat on them so they have game pressure in their face anytime they kick."

At long last there's preseason All-SAC longsnapper Andrew Bradshaw.

"Andrew has that work ethic," Goss said. "Dawson Campbell had that work ethic for perfection. Andrew has that to try to get faster and get quicker while making sure laces are out. He's just always trying to get better."

Carson-Newman's position previews wrap up Friday with the linebackers.