The Best From The West Coast
Hello everyone and welcome back to our third installment counting down the top special teams players in the country. We began with a look at the best in the Big 12. That was followed by the best specialists in the Big Ten. For today’s countdown, we’re heading out west to the Pac-12. Of course, the league has made non-stop headlines for off-the-field activities this off-season. However, we’re not here to talk about that as it’s nearly July and the 2023 campaign will be here before you know it. With that in mind let’s start our countdown of the top returning Pac-12 specialists with the kickers. As a point of reference players who transferred within the league count however someone who came from outside the league does not. That leaves out a few Colorado players.
Clutch Kickers
3- Tyler Loop– Arizona- During his 2022 campaign Loop made all 38 of his extra-point attempts. In fact, he’s never missed a PAT in his career going 50 for 50. He also made 18 of 21 field goals which placed him second in the league in makes. The Texas native finished the season making nine consecutive field goals. In addition, Loop handled the kickoff duties with 45 touchbacks. He was a Pac-12 Honorable Mention kicker.
2- Camden Lewis- Oregon- Lewis heads into 2023 fifth on the Ducks’ all-time scoring list with 302 points. He’s got a very good chance at beating Royce Freeman‘s career mark of 383. In addition, his 37 made field goals puts him fourth in school history and in striking distance of Aidan Schneider’s record of 51. A season ago Lewis made 14 of 16 field goals putting him second in the league in field goal percentage. He was perfect on all 64 extra-point attempts including the game-winner against North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl.
1- Joshua Karty– Stanford- There weren’t a lot of highlights during a 3-9 campaign for the Cardinal. However, Karty was certainly one of them. In going 18 for 18 on field goals and 24 of 25 on extra points, Karty was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection and finalist for the Lou Groza Award.
He accounted for all of Stanford’s points in a 15-14 win over Arizona State. In addition, he nailed a 54-yarder against BYU and a 61-yard field goal against California. Karty topped the charts a season ago and is the betting choice to do it again in 2023.
As we continue looking at the top returning Pac-12 specialists let’s move to the punters.
Big Game Boomers
3- Kyle Ostendorp– Arizona– While his numbers dipped slightly from his remarkable 2021 season Osterdorp still put up big numbers. He averaged 45.5 yards per punt in 2022 which put him third in the league in average. Of his 34 punts 10 landed inside the 20-yard line and had nine of 50-plus yards. The previous year Ostendorp set an Arizona record averaging 49.2 yards on 58 punts. That included 28 kicks of more than 50 yards and 17 downed inside the 20. As a result, he became the first Wildcat punter since Keenyn Crier in 2007 to be first team All-Pac-12.
2- Nick Haberer– Washington State- The Australia native punted 59 times last year averaging 42.4 yards a kick, which put him third in the Pac-12. However, the hang time on his kicks was an impressive 4.13 seconds. That put him tops in the conference and 11th in the nation. Overall Haberer landed 22 punts inside the 20 and had six kicks of over 50 yards. For his efforts, he was named honorable mention to the All-Pac-12 team. The year before he was named an All-American freshman by the FWWA after averaging 42.8 yards a kick.
1- Eddie Czaplicki– USC- Arizona State’s loss is the Trojans’ gain in 2023. Punting for the Sun Devils Czaplicki finished second in the league and eighth in the nation with a 46.1-yard average. Of his 49 punts 16 went for over 50 yards while 15 landed inside the 20.
Not only did he handle the punting duties but kicking off as well. In fact, 29 of his 55 kicks went for touchbacks. For his efforts, the junior was rewarded with first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Much like Karty, Czaplicki is the odds-on favorite for first-team honors again this year.
We’re wrapping up our top returning Pac-12 specialists with a countdown of the top return guys where one team owns two of the three slots.
Top Return Men
3- Raleek Brown– USC- As a freshman Brown played in all 14 games for the Trojans. He averaged 21.5 yards on 24 kick returns. His 517 return yards placed him second in the league. While he was slowed in the spring with an ankle injury he should be ready for a breakout year in 2023.
2- Silas Bolden– Oregon State- Bolden led the Pac-12 in kickoff return yards and average with 599 and 27.2 respectively. He totaled 80 return yards in three different games. For his efforts, he was named first-team Pac-12 by Phil Steele and second-team by the league.
1- Anthony Gould– Oregon State- The second half of the Beavers’ “Dynamic Duo” Gould averaged 18.3 yards per punt return and had two touchdowns. During his stellar sophomore campaign, Gould was named first-team All-American by CBS Sports, The Sporting News, and Pac-12.
Basically when you play Oregon State do everything in your power to kick the ball away from them.
Thanks for checking out the top returning Pac-12 specialists here at Last Word On College Football. Do you agree or disagree with our list? Let us know in the comment section below.
Photo courtesy: BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL / USA TODAY NETWORK
