Spring Football Hot Topics: ULM Special Teams

Football Mar 09

By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

Ask any ULM football fan to recite horror stories about past seasons and you're sure to get a few special teams tales. Missed field goals that dashed bowl dreams, blocked punts, back-breaking TD returns and fumbled kick returns have all contributed to Warhawk woes in seasons past. Enter new special teams coordinator Jason Rollins, tasked this spring with reversing ULM's fortunes in the kicking game. "Our special teams are kind of the identity of the team," Rollins said. "So, how you are on special teams kind of defines who you are as a team. If you are tough, physical and aggressive, that's the kind of team you're going to have." In a change of approach, ULM head coach Terry Bowden hired the seasoned assistant in February and will allow him to focus strictly on organizing special teams. "First and foremost, we have to not lose the game," Rollins said. "No blocks, no big plays, no penalties." For his part, Rollins is making sure ULM uses some of its most talented athletes in the kicking game, so opponents won't exploit those natural mismatches. "It's the players," Rollins said. "It's all about putting the right players on the field that you can trust." With improved depth, Rollins said special teams could showcase some of the same star power as the offense and defense. "Right now, we have a lot depth, so we'll be able to play better players," Rollins said. "Some of our starters will be out there and they want to be a part of it. We can rest them on offense and defense." More on Rollins: Prior to landing at ULM this spring, the veteran assistant made numerous coaching stops, including a stint as interim head coach at Southern University. Prior to Southern, Rollins worked at UTSA where he served as the defensive coordinator for two seasons and spent two years as associate head coach and linebackers coach. He spent nine seasons as secondary coach at Tulane, including serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2015 and special teams coordinator in 2014. Prior to his tenure at Tulane, Rollins was co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at his alma mater, McNeese State, for two seasons (2005-06). Rollins began as an assistant coach for the defensive backs at McNeese State in 1997-98. He was an assistant coach in the Texas prep ranks at Galveston Ball (1999-2000) and La Marque (2001). He spent three seasons (2002-04) as the defensive backs coach at Northwestern State. An all-state and all-district performer at Newton (Texas) High School, Rollins played safety at McNeese State where he earned his bachelor's degree in health and human performance from MSU in 1996. Open competition at kicker: ULM had an outstanding placekicker the past two seasons, in Calum Sutherland, but he exhausted his eligibility in 2022. "Right now, it's an open competition," Rollins said. "We have some guys who were on the roster, but they weren't starting." Candidates to replace Sutherland include Derek McCormick, Braxton Guilbeau along with Price Nixon. "It's a three-way battle with them right now," Rollins said. A product of Port Charlotte (Fla.) High School, McCormick gained some additional experience kicking for NAIA Division II Ave Maria University prior to ULM. He averaged 55.8 yards on five kickoffs last season for the Warhawks. Guilbeau, who served as ULM's back-up punter in 2022, was a four-year starter and all-state performer at Southside High in Youngsville, La. Nixon kicked for Itawamba Community College after his prep career at Clinton (Miss.) High School. Look for Rollins to put the kickers through plenty of situational drills to glean which one has the clutch gene to go along with his consistency. Punting choices: ULM also breaks in a new punter this season now that Devyn McCormick, Derek's brother, has finished his career. Guilbeau, who averaged 42 yards on his three punts in 2022, is the frontrunner to handle the chore. "He's doing a really good job punting and has a strong leg," Rollins said. "Very athletic as well. It's good to have an athletic punter." It's a snap: Long-snapper Trey Corley took some good-natured ribbing on the sidelines during one recent practice because he's been around so long. But having a seasoned player providing stability in a key spot like that is always a plus. "His nickname is 'Paw Paw,'" Rollins quipped. "If you don't know him, he's doing a great job." Happier returns: Familiar faces will get their chances in the return game too. Dynamic talents, like receivers Bugs Mortimer and Tyrone Howell, are among the candidates to bring back kicks and punts. "We have Mortimer that's a fast guy and Ty Howell will have a chance to return some," Rollins said. "We have a lot of athletes that we can get the ball in open space with a punt return or kick return." ULM averaged 17.62 yards on kickoff returns while allowing opponents an average 29.50 in 2022. Additionally, the Warhawks gave up one kickoff return for a touchdown and three punt returns for touchdowns.

Jason Rollins special teams coordinator 2023

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Spring Football Hot Topics: ULM Special Teams