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ULM Spring Football Spotlight: Specialists

ULM Spring Football Spotlight: Specialists

Football Apr 17
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
 
MONROE, La. – Of all the occurrences during ULM spring football drills, a monster field goal by Jacob Meeks was one of the exclamation points for head coach Matt Viator. 

"Yesterday was one of the highlights of spring," Viator said, referring to the final practice before the spring football game. "I will say this; it was down wind. Jacob Meeks made a 61-yarder in practice. Players got really, really excited. We won't count the wind-aided, but that was pretty good."

"He knocked it down with ease," ULM special teams coordinator Tyler Bolfing said of the 60-plus yard kick. "He's done a really good job. Obviously kickoffs, he's in my opinion one of the best in the conference." 

A left-footed kicker, Meeks followed up with field goals of 27 and 43 yards in the spring game. 

"I want that spot," Meeks said. "I think if I keep doing what I'm doing, that spot's mine." 

With Craig Ford finishing his eligibility in 2018 with 262 career points, Meeks is one of the contenders to be ULM's primary place-kicker in 2019. Last year's punter Jared Porter jumped into the mix and has a legitimate chance to be a dual-threat kicker for Warhawks. 

"Field goal kicker, it's a wide-open competition," Bolfing said. "We've got Devin Parker getting kicks too, and he's done a good job as well. Field goal and PAT is still wide open. It's a good room." 

Meeks was ULM's main kick-off specialist a year ago, where he averaged 60.2 yards with 25 touchbacks. 

"I came in here my freshman year and did kickoffs because I have that leg," said Meeks, who claims a wind-aided 70-yard field goal as his best ever. 

"Meeks has had a pretty solid spring kicking field goals, which is nice because obviously kickoff wise, he's been outstanding," Bolfing said. "Field goals and PATs, he's been outstanding as well."

Porter came along last year and solidified a punter slot that had been a major question mark coming out of the spring. He averaged 42.1 yards on 49 punts, dropped 11 inside the 20 and made five punts of 50-plus yards.

"We feel really good about Jared," Bolfing said. "He's been a little up and down because of some injuries this spring, but he's a good player and he comes to work every day with the right mindset. He wants to be the guy and is working to be the guy."

Don't discount Porter's chances to serve as the No. 1 placekicker for field goals and PATs too. 

"He's had an excellent spring kicking field goals and PATs," Bolfing said. "It's something he hasn't done a lot of since high school days, but he's had a good spring doing that, which is nice. When you've got guys that can do multiple things, you're not as worried about your depth but improving their individual skill set. It's nice with a guy like Porter."

Regardless who wins the main job, ULM is counting on consistency. Ford was 9-for-14 on field goals with a long of 43 as a senior. 

"It's very important to have a quality field-goal and PAT kicker," Bolfing said. "They are very important. Any time you get a chance to put points on the board, you better take advantage of it. Those guys are valued just like anybody else on the team. We feel good about the position we're in because we've got some guys we feel like can knock down kicks in big time situations."

Behind Porter, Craig Walker serves the back-up punter.

"We also feel good about Craig Walker, who is technically the No. 2 punter," Bolfing said. "He's had an excellent spring and shown tremendous improvement. We feel solid about the punter spot right now." 

Senior Walker Easton (short) and junior Bobbie Conklin (long) are handling the snapping chores. 

"They've both had tremendous springs, both long and short snaps," Bolfing said. "Walker gives you the body presence you want in a short snapper. Bobby in the long-snapping game gives you the presence you want down the field. Obviously and most importantly, their job is to have accurate snaps."  

In the return game, ULM legend Marcus Green has finished his career, so new opportunities are open on kickoffs and punts. Speedy Markis McCray is being counted on for a boost there. 

"Markis is the one we hope can do the deal back there to replace Marcus," Bolfing said. "Perry Carter, Brandius Batiste, Malik Jackson, Josh Newton, we've got some guys who have home-run threat ability. We're working with them, but it's different back there with those bodies flying around. It's a different feel, but we've got some guys we feel like can create big-play opportunities for us and they've gotten better this spring."


This positional spotlight is part of a continuing spring series you can find at ULMWarhawks.com. 
 
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