Seminoles Special Teams Takes Shape as Season Opener Looms
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As fall
camp continues for Florida State, the special teams’ unit has taken shape and
will be a talented position group. At the end of practice on Thursday, special
teams’ coordinator Adam Scheier spoke about this group and what they bring to
the team.
Kicker
Gabe Panikowski will handle the field goal duties.
“Been very pleased
with Gabe since he stepped on campus," Scheier said. "Just his
approach, and how consistent and smooth he is as a field goal kicker. And that
showed up through spring, through fall camp here. Now it's nice to see him go
four-for-four today from outside of 45 [yards]. And then do a 50-yarder as
well. I think a 53-yarder after that."
Panikowski transferred in from
Oklahoma State, where he inexplicably did not see any game action for the
Cowboys. That is significant when you consider the season that he had at Idaho
State in 2024:
- Fred Mitchell Award winner, presented
to the nation’s best non-FBS kicker.
- First-team FCS All-America (AFCA,
Walter Camp, Sports Illustrated).
- Second-team FCS All-America by the
Associated Press (AP).
- First-Team All-Big Sky Conference
- 15-of-15 on field goal, nine of
which were from 30-39 yards.
- 44-of-47 on PAT’s.
- 55-yard field goal vs. Northern
Arizona (fourth longest in school history).
- Averaged 63.7 yards on kickoffs.
On one kick off in practice by Panikowski, the football
sailed 2-3 yards deep into the end zone with a hang time of 4.132 seconds.
Conor McAneney will handle the kick offs, but obviously Panikowski could handle
those duties as well, if needed.
Punting the football for the
Seminoles will be Daniel Hughes.
"I played against him last year
when I was at UNLV," Scheier said. "He was at New Mexico, so I
watched his stuff, and he's a very talented punter. We will make an
emphasis of attacking that unit as an opportunity to flip the field, because
our job at the end of the day is to play great defense, and the way you do that is you move the ball as far down the field as you
possibly can, give your defense as long a field to defend as possible, and I
think it'll carry over."
Hughes averaged 45.44 yards per punt
last season for a 9-4 New Mexico team. In six games last season, Hughes punted
less than three times in the game.
Snapping the ball on punts and kicks
will be long-snapper Caleb Bowers.
"Very steady. Veteran
presence," Scheier said. "Accurate with his snaps – times are good.
The ability to protect both punt and field goal has been there. And just a good
leader, good mentor to our younger long snappers, to our group as well."
Bowers comes to Florida State from
FCS-powerhouse North Dakota State. He appeared in 44 straight games for the
Bison, who won an FCS national title in 2024. Last season, Bowers was named
first-team FCS All America and first-team All-MVFC. During his career at North
Dakota State, the Bison posted a 49-10 record.
The consensus among all coaches is
that Sam Singleton and Micahi Danzy will be the primary kick returners.
"I think we've got two of
the best returners in the country,” Scheier said. “We've got good middle skill
to block them for them up front, and the guys are understanding the schematics
and understanding the fundamentals its gonna take to block for those guys, and
again, they're dangerous with the ball in their hands, so we're excited."
Singleton averaged 16.50 yards per
kickoff return last season for Florida State. Danzy, with his elite track
speed, is a threat to take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Last
season, the Seminoles ranked among the top 30 in the FBS in kickoff returns, as
they averaged 21.2 yards per return. These two could make an immediate impact
in the return game.
Freshman Jasen Lopez has made his presence
felt as a receiver and will do so as the punt returner for the Seminoles.
"Jasen Lopez has shown the
ability, confidence, moxie for a true freshman to be the guy,” Scheier said.
If Lopez cannot go, then a host of
other players can step up and make a play, including Jayvan Boggs, Duce
Robinson, Devin Carter, and Ja’bril Rawls.
Florida State has the talent to make
an impact and win football games. We will see if the Seminoles can shake off that
rust, since they have lost 17 of their last 24 games. Seven wins over the last
two seasons is the fewest at Florida State since 1974-75. It has been 52 years since that kind of futility has reared its ugly head in Tallahassee.
But there are plenty of
opportunities to exceed expectations up and down the gauntlet of a schedule
that the Seminoles will face this season. The sacrifice, the sweat, the buy-in,
and the learning from fall camp will all come to fruition on August 29 when Florida
State hosts New Mexico State.
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