TCU Camp '11: Special Teams Led By Veterans
8/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 15, 2011
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The GoFrogs.com preview of the 2011 TCU football team continues with a look at the special teams.
Placekicker Ross Evans (5-9, 185, Sr.) and punter Anson Kelton (6-4, 280, Sr.) will both be in their fourth year as starters.
Evans, who appears on the Lou Groza Award Watch List, was 11-of-13 on field goals last season and is 42-of-51 (82.4 percent) in his career.
In just three seasons, he is already the Horned Frogs' career leader in kick scoring with 304 points. He is also TCU's all-time leader in both extra points made (178) and attempted (191). He holds a total of seven TCU placekicking records.
Kelton was an unsung hero in the Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. He twice pinned the Badgers inside their 5-yard line and was instrumental in Wisconsin having an average starting field position at its own 20. Over the last two seasons, Kelton has placed 36 punts inside the opponent 20 with just five touchbacks. He had a career-best 41.6 average in 2010.
Daniel Shelley (6-1, 228, Jr.) had a strong year in his first season as TCU's deep snapper. The position has a strong tradition as the Horned Frogs' previous two snappers (Jared Retkofsky and Clint Gresham) both went on to the National Football League.
Skye Dawson (5-10, 175, Jr.) and Greg McCoy (5-10, 181, Sr.) provide TCU with great speed on punt and kickoff returns as well as being arguably the fastest two players on the team.
McCoy averaged 33.4 yards on kickoff returns last year after setting a TCU single-season record with a 35.9 mark in 2009. Included in that average was an 81-yard touchdown at Wyoming.
Dawson is a Mountain West Conference track and field champion in the 60 meters. He returned three kickoffs last season for a 29.0 average with a long of 44 yards versus San Diego State.
TCU has produced the All-MWC return specialist all six seasons it has been in the league.
BY THE NUMBERS:
2 - Consecutive deep snappers to graduate from TCU and make an NFL roster (Jared Retkofsky, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09; Clint Gresham, Seattle Seahawks, 2010-present)
6 - Consecutive seasons TCU has had the first-team All-Mountain West Conference return specialist, representing every year it has been in the league
7 - TCU placekicking records held by Ross Evans
35.9 - TCU single-season record (minimum 10 attempts) for kickoff return average set by Greg McCoy in 2009
94 - Longest punt in TCU history by Carl Knox versus Oklahoma A&M in 1947
Players Mentioned
