Class of 2023: Special Teams Players to Watch in Central Texas
Special teams do not often get as much attention as the offense or defense but it is still an important part of the game of football, and when it comes to young talent, they really stick out especially if they…
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Continue ReadingSpecial teams do not often get as much attention as the offense or defense but it is still an important part of the game of football, and when it comes to young talent, they really stick out especially if they showcase great numbers already as sophomores last season. These three special teams players have done just that.
1. Patrick Hellen (K) – Johnson High School (Buda, TX)
When it comes to Johnson’s special teams, Hellen is pretty much everywhere from PATs and field goals to punting. Hellen hit all four of his field goals last season with his longest being from 38 yards. He also hit 21 out of 25 PATs, kicking for an average of 80%. When punting, Hellen punted for a total of 145 yards with his longest being for 43 yards and he was able to punt inside the 20-yard line once. Hellen accounted for a total of 33 points last season. Considering how much Hellen has done already for Johnson’s special teams, he will only continue to get better with age and experience and he is certainly reliable to get more points whatever the case may be.
2. Julius Baynard – Bastrop High School (Bastrop, TX)
While special teams is not the only thing Baynard does for Bastrop, he was a star kick returner for the Bears. He gained a total of 349 yards, with his longest return being 62 yards, and averaged 21.8 yards per return. That 62-yard return came against Rudder which dominated Bastrop defensively all-game but could not stop Baynard on the return game. On top of his special teams play, Baynard also rushed for 109 yards and recorded 286 receiving yards and four total touchdowns.
3. Cameron Cook – Stony Point High School (Round Rock, TX)
Cook also does a lot for his team’s special teams. He is the main returner for Stony Point and recorded a total of 182 kickoff return yards and 108 total punt return yards. He averaged 16.5 yards per kickoff and 13.5 yards per punt. His longest kickoff return was for 38 yards and his longest punt return was for 25 yards. On top of that, he also rushed for 615 yards and two touchdowns, according to MaxPreps, and had 14 receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown.