Hello everyone and welcome back to our countdown of the best returning players in college football. Today our focus is on the best kickers, punters, and return men. Today we’re heading to the Big Ten, a league that’s no stranger to realignment madness. Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington all came aboard giving the conference 18 teams. For this list, we aren’t including any of the new schools or players who transferred from outside the league. However, players who transferred within the league are ok. Let’s start our list of the Big Ten’s Top Returning Specialists in 2024.
Big Ten’s Top Returning Specialists In 2024
Coming Through In The Clutch
3. Jonathan Kim– Michigan State- In his first year in East Lansing Kim converted on all 17 extra points and 13 of 18 field goals. He has a powerful leg as he made four from beyond 50 yards. Furthermore, he nailed a 58-yarder against Iowa, second-second-longest in college football last year. As a result, he made honorable mention all-Big Ten.
2. Drew Stevens– Iowa- Playing for the “offensively challenged” Hawkeyes Stevens made nearly as many field goals (18) as extra points (19.) A Lou Groza Award semi-finalist for a second straight year he finished third team all-conference. His 145 points rank him 22nd in school history. If the offense can get rolling in 2024 then he’ll rocket up the list.
1. Dragan Kesich– Minnesota– Another Groza award semi-finalist, Kesich made 23 of 27 field goals and all 27 extra points. His 96 points were the ninth most in a single season in school history. For his efforts, he earned Big Ten kicker of the year and first-team all-Big Ten honors. Not only is he a 2024 first-team selection but he tops our list as well.
Moving ahead with the Big Ten’s Top Returning Specialists in 2024 it’s the punter’s turn.
Big Game Boomers
3. Tommy Doman– Michigan– The senior was a huge weapon on last year’s national champions. A third-team All-Big Ten selection Doman averaged 44.3 yards per punt, putting him fifth in the conference. He landed 18 punts inside the 20-yard line, had 26 fair catches, and only four touchbacks.
2. James Evans– Indiana- The New Zealand native averaged 45.8 yards per punt putting him third in the league. Only six of his 57 punts went for a touchback while he landed 15 inside the 20. The media selected him third-team all-conference. For his career, Evans owns three of the top ten punting averages in school history.
1. Ryan Eckley– Michigan State- It wasn’t the best year for the Spartans in 2023. However, one thing that went well was special teams. Eckley finished second in the league and eighth in the nation with a 46.8-yard average. As a redshirt freshman, he boomed 24 punts over 50 yards and 24 inside the 20. Eckley was a freshman All-American and looks for even bigger things in 2024.
We’ve given you our picks for the top kickers and punters. Now as we finish up our top returning Big Ten specialists let’s look at the return men. A lot of the top players from 2023 are either playing in the NFL or transferred. Because of that, we have some guys who may have been under the radar.
Potential Game Breakers
3. Nick Singleton– Penn State– This is the second appearance for Singleton as he also made our list of top returning running backs. He only returned 13 kicks but made the most of them averaging 24.1 yards per return. That put him third in the league. He’s looking to move up the list this year.
2. A.J. Henning– Northwestern– Returning both kicks and punts Henning had a strong year for the Wildcats. He ranked fourth in the league in kickoff return yards with 330 and fifth in return average. In addition, he finished in the top ten in punt returns.
1. Braedan Wisloski– Maryland– As a freshman Wisloski put up some impressive numbers. Appearing in all 13 games he returned 16 kicks for 380 yards and a touchdown. His 23.8-yard return average put him third in the league and 19th in the nation. His 98-yard return against Virginia was the Terrapins’ first since 2019. As a result, he heads our list of return men.
That’s our list of the Big Ten’s top returning specialists in 2024. Who did we leave off the list? Who’s ranked too high or low? Check out our page on X and post your thoughts. We’ll be back soon with the SEC.
