A Look at Next Year: Special Teams

Continuing with the “A Look at Next Year” series, today I take a short look at special teams.  This is one of those units where a coach has a lot of influence over how the unit will perform.  We don’t need to worry about that.  Mike Tressel is the Spartans’ special teams coach, and as the nephew of Jim Tressel perhaps few people know better the importance of good special teams.  Under Mike Tressel’s watch the Spartans have had pretty sound special teams, and since there are no rumors that he will be leaving anytime soon, I expect that soundness to continue.

4   Dan Conroy  K      5-10  190  JR    Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton Warrenville South
17 Kevin Muma  K     6-0    189  SO    Troy, Mich. – Troy
20 Kyle Selden   P     6-5     199  SR   Waterford, Mich. - Our Lady of the Lakes
3   Mike Sadler   P     6-0     182  RS   FR Grand Rapids, Mich. - Forest Hills Northern
20 Nick Hill        RB  5-7     180  RS   FR Chelsea, Mich. – Chelsea

It doesn’t hurt that the Spartans have most of their key pieces returning next year.  As we can see in the list above, Dan Conroy will be back next year as a senior and his backup, Kevin Muma, will be back as a junior.  Conroy was excellent this year, hitting 17 of 23 attempts, while Muma was 1 for 1. 

At punter, the Spartans are set for the next 3 years.  Mike Sadler will be back as a sophomore and he had a terrific year, averaging 41.1 points per game.  He should be even better next year.

At kickoff returner, Nick Hill will likely be back.  I say likely, not because he’s heading off to the NFL but because the only reason he wouldn’t be back as a returner is that he would be focusing more on the running back position.  Since the Spartans will be loaded at running back, again, Hill looks likely to be returning kickoffs next year. 

The one concern is punt returns.  For the past few years the Spartans have been relying on Keyshawn Martin to return punts, and he’s been spectacular at it, for the most part.  The Spartans probably won’t find someone that will produce what Martin did, but they should be able to find an adequate replacement.  Some explosive possibilities include: Nick Hill, Tony Lippett, and the incoming Nick Tompkins. 

The upshot is that MSU’s special teams should be sound again next year.  This should not be an area of concern.