Football | 9.2.15

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The final part of the four part preseason football preview is focused on the special teams. The Golden Bears open the season on Thursday with a 6 p.m. kickoff at St. Cloud State's Husky Stadium.
 
The most glaring question facing the program's special teams was who would replace All-American and Cincinnati Bengal Tom Obarski, who handled kicking and punting duties for four years at a program-record elite level.
 
The team had four kickers and a punter in fall camp vying for the opportunity to grab starting roles for field goal/PAT kicking, kickoff duties and the punting job. Of the four kickers, multiple had punting experience as well.
 
COVERAGE UNITS
And while those roles have been assigned, the strength of the special teams unit is placed with the overall athleticism and depth created by employing a versatile roster to allow for a dynamic kick and punt return game as well as kickoff and punt coverage units that will aid in making the specialists more successful in their roles.
 
"Our team depth allows us more options and more competition to give us a better starting 11 on our kickoff and punt coverage teams," said head coach Ryan Williams. "We have guys that can run, get down field in closed space and make tackles. That's what special teams is all about and we have experienced guys in those areas. We look to take that top end performance and see how high we can take it on gameday."
 
He continued, "Specific special teams coverage standouts include the likes of DeCeon Schumann, Rodney Smith, Dominic Nabak, Josh Trifunov, the Russell brothers (Bruce and Brandon) and newcomers such as David Reed and Mitch Zillman we think will have a chance to excel."
 
THE RETURN GAME
The return game could see a few different faces looking to make plays and includes Alquawn Vickers, Jimmy Mireri and Alex Carr who should field a majority of the kickoffs. Vickers and Carr are coming off redshirt seasons, Vickers as a freshman and Carr as a medical hardship but both players are also penciled into key offensive roles as well. Mireri anchors the starting cornerbacks and has big play history with Concordia and is tied for the team lead among returning players in touchdowns with a pair last year including a 90-yard kickoff return.
 
"We have a chance to be even better than we've been (in the return game)," said Williams. "Vickers will be very good with his speed, vision, quickness and fearless running style. Jimmy has proven that he can be a very good returner with big play experience and Carr is a dynamic guy who can make big plays."
 
Williams added, "These are all guys that if they get a crease, they're gone."
 
Concordia's other starting corner opposite Mireri, Jamie Fore is expected to be the front man on punt returns. "Like I mentioned when talking about him on the defense, Jamie is one of the most competitive players we have on this football team, and his physical play will suit him well in the return game. We could also see Vickers and Carr backing him up depending on the game situation."
 
KICKING GAME SPECIALISTS
In the kicking game, the most experienced player starts the play with the ball in senior long snapper Noah Jankowski, who Williams noted as "productive and consistent." Last year, his snaps went to holder Sam Maedke and he'll return to that same role on the field goal and PAT units, providing a stable fold in the kicking game.
 
To replace Obarski, the Golden Bears had four players vying for the starting kicking role that was eventually awarded to freshman Jonas Schenderlein. The Jena, Germany native came to Concordia from Tri-Cities Christian School in Tennessee where 17 players appeared in the team photo on the team's website.
 
"The kicker job came down to two players, Jonas and Conner Pals. Conner had a prior injury flare up late in camp, but Jonas did the best through the early part of competition and has asserted himself. As he gains confidence going into the season, he has a chance to be really good. We're excited about him, he has a tremendous leg and can pound kickoffs. He just needs to settle in and believe in himself the that we all do in that he's going to be a real good field goal kicker."
 
Maedke has earned the punting nod in addition to his holding responsibilities and has looked strong throughout camp. The sophomore enters his third year in the program, working behind Obarski the past two seasons while developing his leg and acclimating to a college special teams environment.
 
"Sam is a talented young man, and puts good hangtime and distance on his punts," said Williams. "I look forward for him to get his first one under his belt, get some out so he can settle into changing the field position game with his dynamic leg."