Special teams counts on veterans, transfers
ASU to use new kicker, other fresh faces in ’22
When it comes to kick returning, D.J. Taylor set the bar high early in his Arizona State tenure. As a true freshman in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign he averaged 35 yards on kickoff returns, highlighted by a 100-yarder for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of ASU’s 70-7 Territorial Cup blowout over Arizona. It’s hard to get better than that.
The Florida native has the potential to break that kind of play every time he touches the ball, but that can also pose a problem.
Taylor struggled a bit last season, with his yards per return dipping to 21.8. His desire to make that big play proved problematic because he often brought balls out that were nearly out of the end zone and oftentimes he didn’t come close to getting back out to the 25. After a tough game against UCLA, he was temporarily removed from that role.
Now, he is poised to make a positive impact again.
“He’s an explosive runner,” special teams coach Shawn Slocum said. “His biggest challenge coming off last season was improving his decision-making skills and picking your times when you take shots, take chances and he’s improved this spring. He’s way more consistent, just in catching the football and making some decisions right back around the goal line which is where he needs to improve.”
Taylor has been back in his customary spot during the Sun Devils’ spring drills which will conclude with the last of 15 sessions at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium.
Running back Daniyel Ngata and wide receiver Elijhah Badger are also seeing time as return specialists in sessions open to the media. Slocum said sophomore wide receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton, who has been limited by an undisclosed injury, will also be a factor there this fall.
But Taylor, who is also working on being part of the picture in the secondary, is eager to redeem himself.
“That’s one of my key things, making
better decisions, knowing where I’m at, knowing the time of the game, just every little detail,” he said. “The main thing is the catch. It’s not what you do after the catch, it’s really just making the catch and getting the possession first and trying to get the best field possession for my team.”
Special team units had been a strength of the Sun Devils in previous years but last season there were some issues with fewer return yards only a minor part of the regression.
The Sun Devils used two kickers, Cristian Zendejas and Logan Tyler, who combined to go just 8-for-13 on field goal tries with a long of only 40 yards. Tyler graduated and Zendejas hit the transfer portal again. So the job is up for grabs.
The list of candidates includes redshirt freshman Jace Feely, son of former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who joined the Sun Devils last spring and is much improved, according to Slocum. Yes, it helps to have a valuable resource on the intricacies of the position in your family.
“Since I started kicking, he’s been there and has always been there as I’ve progressed and grown,” Feely said of his father. “He gets to tell me more about the mental side of things and more like what he did at the professional level and allows
me to grow in that aspect.”
Robert Liss, a local product out of Verrado High School who played previously at Colorado State, is expected in June as is Carter Brown out of Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas, one of the top kickers in the country and a prospect whom Slocum says reminds him of former Sun Devil and current NFL kicker Zane Gonzalez.
The main holdover from the unit last year is punter Eddie Czaplicki who averaged 43.43 yards on 45 tries last season as a true freshman after taking over for Michael Turk. Czaplicki had 18 kicks downed inside the 20 and 13 kicks of 50 or more yards. He says his focus has been on improving the hang time of his kicks.
There will be changes elsewhere on the units with Gage King taking over from Erik Dickerson as long snapper.
Holder Ethan Long has also departed, transferring to Abilene Christian where he is focusing on playing quarterback. Czaplicki has been working as holder.
“The continuity between those three guys on field goals is highly important because it’s direct scoring play,” Slocum said. “The coordination with our punt protection with the snaps, and again all of that is a growth period right now during the spring, and it’s improving.”