Email This Story

Baylor special teams trying to kick inexperience

Aug. 29, 2007

By Justin Baer

Sports writer

As he walked in the door at his new job with the Baylor Bears football team, special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Kasey Dunn knew he had his work cut out for him.

Replacing an All-American is never an easy task, and that is exactly what Dunn has ahead for him after Baylor lost one of its most heralded players in recent history, punter Daniel Sepulveda.

“I’m not sure anybody is going to fill those shoes,â€- Dunn said. “That’s not something we’re even thinking about.â€-

Sepulveda entered Baylor as a walk-on linebacker from Highland Park High School and graduated as not only the best punter Baylor has ever had, but also one of the best the nation has ever seen.

He soon became the first two-time winner of the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate punter.

However, just like any other college athletic program dealing with losing a player to graduation or the draft, it is vital that the Bears continue to take steps in the right direction.

That’s where true freshman Derek Epperson comes in.

“We need a good solid punt, good distance, play football to the best of your ability and be a good college football player,â€- Dunn said. “The rest will take care of itself.â€-

Although the starting punter’s job was not as highly watched as the ongoing quarterback battle, it does not mean the quest to replace Sepulveda was disregarded by head coach Guy Morriss. Not only did Baylor have to replace their punter over the off-season, but they also had to find someone to fill the shoes of Ryan Havens, last season’s place kicker for the Bears.

Despite the fact that Havens didn’t make as great an impact as Sepulveda did, he was nearly perfect last year from inside 50 yards, nailing 11 of 12 field goal attempts from inside the 32-yard line while also converting all 32 of his extra-point attempts to earn honorable mention on the All-Big 12 Team.

The Bears will also turn to College Station freshman Shea Brewster to take over the kicking duties.

Brewster was under the shadow of highly touted Matt Syzmanski during the majority of his time at A&M Consolidated, but when Syzmanski graduated early to continue his career at Texas A&M, Brewster had his time to shine his senior season and captured the Bears attention.

Szymanski and Brewster will face off again when the Bears visit College Station later this year. And nobody is more excited about silencing his Aggie friends and family than Brewster.

“That’s going to be one of the games of the year for me,â€- said Brewster, whose father and brother are both huge Texas A&M fans. “I can’t wait to kick the winning field goal against them.â€-

As far as the return duties are concerned, Mikail Baker is back after posting top-tier numbers with his 23.73-yard return average, which ranked fourth in the Big 12 in 2006. Running back Brandon Whitaker and inside receiver Joe Bennett could also take some returns as well.

But according to Dunn, if it wasn’t for deep snapper and recently named special teams captain Jonathan Weeks, his special teams unit wouldn’t be the same.

Obviously, the deep snapper position isn’t quite as appealing the kick returner or punter, but Weeks’ leadership abilities have placed him as a favorite of Dunn’s.

“It’s something that doesn’t happen very often,â€- Weeks said. “(My parents) were proud.â€-

Now it is up to Dunn and his special teams unit to help the Bears in their ongoing process of rebuilding of the Baylor football program.

Sports Editor Will Parchman contributed to this story.

More News ...