VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Antonio Goss
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the fifth part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2024 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles' special teams with special teams coordinator Antonio Goss.
This preview starts off with the return game, specifically punts, where All-American Major Williams has been a star turned over the last two seasons.
"He works," Goss said. "He's always out there working on his skillset. When he can bring those skills to the game, it's only going to help us."
Williams has been positively prolific on punt returns in his two seasons on the banks of Mossy Creek. With only 26 career punt returns, Williams 517 punt return yards are the fourth-most in school history. He is one of four players in school history with multiple punt return TDs for a career. Furthermore, his 19.88 yard per punt return average is four yards clear of first for the highest career punt return average.
Williams has one-fifth of Carson-Newman's top 25 all-time longest punt returns, five of his 26 career punt returns have gone for 40 or more yards.
While Williams is a threat to bring any punt back for six, Goss pointed to a seasoned quintet who have the same potential on kickoffs.
"When they come to practice, they are ready to go," Goss said. "Jayden Sullins, Cade Meeks, Jeremiah Carroll, Jelan Pearson and Jerron Newson have shown the ability. It is unique, because we have six to seven guys that we feel we can put back there and give us an opportunity to put points on the board."
Sullins is the most seasoned return man of that quarter, he has 530 career kickoff return yards – 21st most in a career in school history. His 24.09 yards per kickoff return are the sixth-most for a career.
Pearson and Newson put in work on kickoffs last season, accounting for 275 and 54 kickoff return yards, respectively.
Among specialists, Andrew Bradshaw returns to longsnap for his senior season, earning preseason All-SAC honors.
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. In 30 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.
Carson-Newman does return its punter in Andrew Sybert, and consequently the man who handled kickoffs and field goals last year.
Sybert entered 2023 as the presumptive punter, a role he kept throughout the season. However, due to injuries, he was thrust into placekicking duties five weeks into the season.
Sybert finished fourth in the SAC in yards per punt, averaging 40.9 yards per boot. Of his 59 punts, 20 dropped inside the 20. He had a long of 63 yards. He moved into the role of placekicker after injuries hampered C-N's kickers room. Sybert registered eight touchbacks on kickoffs in 23 kicks. He was 3-of-4 on field goals with a long of 49 yards against Emory & Henry (Oct. 28). He connected on a 20 of his PAT attempts.
"Andrew did a great job last year," Goss said. "Grayson Campbell transferred in and is doing a nice job pushing him. We're fortunate, because a lot of our kickers and punters have had a year in the program and thus a year in the weight room. That offseason training has made a big difference for guys like Grant Haney and Bennett Smith."
Campbell transfers in from UT Martin. While he didn't see any actions for the Skyhawks, he prepped at Lebanon High School where he played for head coach Chuck Gentry. He was ranked as a four-star prospect by Ray Guy ProKicker.com and recognized as one of the top 50 punters in the country.
In addition to Haney and Smith, Goss pointed to Ryder Lawson as a freshman who could made an impact on kicks.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Sunday with a glimpse at the quarterbacks with help from Antonio Goss.
