JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the fourth in an eight-part series that will break down what Carson-Newman football brings to the table for the 2014 season position by position. Today's preview features the Eagles' special teams and coach Dino Waites.
Kickers: Carson-Newman must recover from the loss of Curt Duncan at placekicker after the 2012 All-American wrapped his C-N career ranked second for field goals, extra points and points scored by a kicker in Eagle history.
Duncan also holds the top two single season marks for field goals and points by a kicker. The lead candidate to replace his leg is none other than his cousin Ben Ogle.
"Curt was a great kicker, but he was also one of our best athletes and a great leader," Waites said. "Ben has a high standard to measure up to. As he progresses and grows, he can be right there with Curt Duncan. Which is nice because he has three years left here."
Ogle has one varsity field goal in his career, however, he came a point from tying Duncan's single game school record of 17 points by a kicker in a junior varsity game against University of the Cumberlands. Ogle had a 50-yard field goal in that game.
Punter: The Eagles must also find a new starting punter with Duncan's departure, fortunately they have two men with starting experience. Charlie Rhea punted his way to all-conference honors in 2011 before tearing his ACL in game two of 2012.
"Charlie's in the weight room working hard," Waites said. "I can see him having a successful just because he's willing to go that extra mile to work hard and be a leader."
Nick Tankersly earned preseason all-conference honors in 2013 after his 2012 season in place of Rhea before being ruled academically ineligible. They'll battle it out for starting duties. Rhea averaged 38.3 yards per punt in his career while Tankersly comes in at 39.0 yards per punt.
Returners: Carson-Newman's kick return game should be strong with TraShaun Ward fielding kickoffs and punts.
"We've been getting better every year with our kickoff units," Waites said. "The good thing about TraShuan is that he keeps progressing on and off the field. We hope this is the year he finally gets one in the end zone. I think he'll get it because he's that close to making that step."
Ward holds the top two single season kickoff return yardage marks and stands poised to take the career record for kickoff return yards should he equal his totals from his freshman and sophomore seasons. Ward's longest kick return was an 81-yarder against Catawba and helped push him to 705 yards for the season.
"It's good when you can get two guys back there that way teams can't pick and choose who they kick it to," Waites said. "Anthony Ball and then new guys like Damian Baker and Robert McWright could help us out back there too."
Carson-Newman football's position previews resume Saturday with C-N's wide receivers and David Needs.
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