VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Antonio Goss and the Specialists
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the sixth part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2023 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle specialists with assistance from special teams coordinator Antonio Goss.
Carson-Newman's special teams were off the charts in a couple areas last year. C-N was fifth nationally in punts blocked (four), ninth in the nation in average yards per punt return (17.39) and 18th nationally in net punting (37.88).
"We have had great kids who worked hard and handled their business on the field," Goss said. "We have to go out, regroup and have guys compete as one. We're looking forward to them meshing together."
The Eagles success on punts was owed largely to Major Williams the back half of the year. He was named SAC Special Team Player of the Week on Nov. 14. Williams became the first player in Carson-Newman history with more than 100 yards of punt returns in a single game. He brought two punts back for 111 yards.
"He is the guy on punts," Goss said. "He can do multiple things for you. It's always good to watch what he does on film."
Williams returned one punt 86 yards for a score, the first punt return for a touchdown for Carson-Newman since Desmond Fairell brought one back against Virginia-Lynchburg in 2018. The 86-yarder is the fourth-longest punt return in SAC and Carson-Newman history. Williams has three of the seven-highest single-game punt return totals in the last three weeks for the C-N football program.
On kickoffs, the Eagles have strong options in Tyree Nelson and Jayden Sullins. Nelson led Carson-Newman in all-purpose yardage for the year. He finished the year with 893 yards when one factors in his 407 kick return yards. The freshman's top performance was an 89-yard day against Newberry (10/1). He caught a career-high four passes for 41 yards against Emory & Henry (10/29). He hit triple-digits in all-purpose yards in five games, topping out at 140 yards against the Wolves.
Sullins was productive two years ago. He brought back 11 kicks for 309 yards with a long return of 53 yards against Mars Hill. He brought back four kicks for 118 yards against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Christian Erwin seized the day on kickoffs last year en route to All-SAC honors. Erwin started the year exclusively on kickoffs before taking over field goal and PAT duties in the back half of the year. A field position weapon, Erwin blasted 32 kickoffs for touchbacks out of his 56 tries – a rate of 57 percent. As a result of his kicks, Carson-Newman's opponents' average starting field position was the 25.6 yard line. Erwin was third on the team in scoring. He nailed four of his seven field goals and 19-of-20 PATs. Three of Erwin's four makes were from greater than 35 yards, including two, season-long 42-yard tries against Erskine. He made three field goals against the Flying Fleet.
"All we want to do on kickoffs is run a fast 40," Goss said. "When Christian is on cue, it's going to be a great kick. We don't want to give the other team hope and not cover. We can't look like were not playing football. We want to maintain that and always have the engine revved. I take my hat off to the guys who were on that unit last year. They took advantage and executed."
The lone place where Carson-Newman features new on special teams is the punter. Towson transfer Andrew Sybert and Ryan Bolton are embroiled in a battle at that position.
"We have a couple guys fighting," Goss said. "Andrew Sybert and Ryan Bolton are battling for that position. That's just like everything else. Nothing is in pen right now, everything is in pencil. We have to go out to compete and get the best guy who can handle heat."
Finally, one can't talk about special teams without mentioning long snapper U and its latest member – Andrew Bradshaw.
"Andrew makes you relax," Goss said. "He puts in so much work training for that. He is constantly working to improve on his times and it shows in the caliber and quality of his work at that position."
Bradshaw continues a long line of all-conference longsnappers. With Bradshaw's selection, Carson-Newman's last three long snappers – a stretch that dates back to 2012 – have all garnered all-league laurels. Dusty Nance and Dawson Campbell both were three-time honorees. This is Bradshaw's first accolade. In 22 career games, Bradshaw has only seen two punts or kicks blocked and those attempts were both 50-plus, line-drive field goals that ricocheted off the line seeking extra distance. In 2022, Bradshaw was one of four South Atlantic Conference snappers who didn't see a punt blocked on the season.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Tuesday with a glimpse of the linebackers with help from Caleb Goins.
