Special teams players will likely face high pressure this season.
“It could be a chance for a big play or a chance to put points on the board, depending on what the special team is,” coach Michael Holland said. “It takes a person who has ice water in their veins to be able to do that.”
He said he would like for senior kicker/punter Braxton Edmondson to aim for a more consistent kick into the end zone on kickoffs.
“He has the leg to do it,” Holland said. “If he’s able to kick it into the end zone and get touchbacks for us, that’s going to help the defense tremendously because it’s going to make the opposing offense go the full length of the field.”
He added Edmondson has “always been solid” on field goals or extra points, outside of “random stuff” like a bad snap or bad hold.
“ ‘Good snap, good hold, good kick’ is what we say all the time,” Holland said. “We want to make special teams a weapon.”
Edmondson will start at kicker this season, with defensive back Clint Graham filling in as needed. Holland said he may alternate punting duties between Edmondson and quarterback Caden Hartrum.
Hartrum also stepped in for snapper Keagan Moats, who was injured during the Patriots’ 47-0 loss at Lincoln County in a scrimmage last Friday.
“You have to be calm under pressure because you have to stay in the game,” Holland said. “It can be a lonely life at times because you got to warm up on your own. You got to be ready on your own and then go out there and perform. It’s definitely high pressure.”
Holland said players who can start on either side of the ball like Hayden Williams, Keyvon Gresham and Andrew Eberhart will be on “every” special team.
“The threat of the fake sometimes will make defenses not try to come after (the kick) and block it as much because (opponents) are trying to play a little more safe if you have the quarterback back there as the punter,” he said.