SPECIAL TEAMS
The Returners
Fifth-year senior Anthony Avila is back at kicker, which is a positive given his experience level. He set the program record for PATs in a single game (12) in the season opener against Simpson College, and is looking to bounce back after making 6-of-12 field goal attempts last season. Kicker Andrew Cunningham is also entering his sophomore year, and first on the varsity roster, after spending last season developing with the junior varsity.
K.J. Miller is one of the best punt returners in the country, as he has been named ASC Special Teams Player of the Year for two straight seasons, and also earned a spot on D3football.com’s All-America team as a returner last week. Miller tallied 626 punt return yards and two touchdowns last season, with his longest return covering 88 yards. His presence, not only a receiver, but also on special teams, will be critical, as was seen with several exceptional returns in Saturday’s scrimmage against Monterrey Tech.
The Departures
Jefferson Fritz was not only UMHB’s stellar free safety, he also was the starting punter, and an exceptional one at that. He had 37 punts with an average of 39.8 yards per punt, and 19 downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, pinning them deep in their own territory. Six of his punts covered 50 yards or more. And not only that, but he also returned 22 punts for 315 yards and a touchdown, forming a duo with Miller that was nearly unstoppable in the punt return game. Opponents were often left with little choice but to punt the ball out of bounds to avoid it going into the hands of either Fritz or Miller.
Brandon Cunningham also shared some of the kicking duties last season, and graduated after three years in the program. The Wylie, Texas native saw all four of his punts last season downed inside the 20-yard line, and his four kickoffs had an average of 52.5 yards. He handled the field goal duties in the Stagg Bowl, converting on all three of his attempts, with the longest being 32 yards early in the first quarter.
In addition to being a linebacker, Jacob Mueller was also the team’s long snapper for much of last season.
The Newcomers
It is always a challenge to know who will contribute on special teams, considering the coaching staff uses various personnel on the unit in different situations throughout the season.
Jack Bruner is one of just eight freshmen listed on the roster with a varsity number, as the kicker from Wimberly, Texas, begins his collegiate career. Bruner was voted by the Texas Sportswriters Association as the 4A Kicker of the Year in 2021.
