SE: Special Teams a Consistent, Deep Force for K-State in 2017

By Corbin McGuire

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Early on in the first K-State practice Byron Pringle ever watched, something immediately caught his attention on a punt coverage drill. Everyone was sprinting. Like, truly running hard. He had never seen anything quite like it.

"The coaches weren't yelling or anything," Pringle recalled. "I just saw everybody running full speed down to cover a guy on punt return and was, like, 'That's crazy. They really go hard (on special teams).'"

The first practice Pringle participated in, another eye-opening moment occurred. This time, he was returning a punt.

"As soon as I caught the ball, the coverage unit was right in my face," Pringle remembered. "That's when I knew this place really did take (special teams) serious."

Under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Snyder, special teams has always been a major priority at K-State. His son, Sean Snyder, has served the special teams coordinator since 2011 and has coached the Wildcats into one of the nation's best units year in and year out.

"Sean's like a musician when it comes to special teams," Pringle, at Friday's Cactus Bowl media day, said of the 2015 National Special Teams Coordinator of the Year and one of 56 candidates for the 2017 Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach.

"The way he puts it, it's always open, there's always an open return. Or for the coverage unit, they're always in the right space," Pringle continued. "We know at a certain yard depth, this man will come block you. It always happens like that. He's never been wrong since I've been here. If you listen to coach, things will open up for you."

Collectively, this season has been one of the Wildcats' best for special teams, which is saying something. Phil Steele and ESPN ranked K-State's special team's unit No. 1 in the country heading into bowl season.

Statistically, the Wildcats are one of three teams across the country to rank in the top 15 for both punt return average (14.78 yards; 7^th) and kickoff return average (24.67; 15^th). This season marked the program's 13^th in a row with at least one kickoff return score, which leads the nation and is five years longer than the next-closest school.

"Our special teams, they're very consistent. It's not like it just happens on Saturdays. We work hard at it," said Pringle, before emphasizing the group factor of K-State's special teams success. "It's not just me being a returner, making guys miss. It's every other guy that's on the return unit. They're doing their assignment and they're getting the right leverage."

Additionally, K-State has defended 239 kickoff returns in a row without giving up a score, a number that spans 62 games. Similarly, an opponent has not scored on K-State from a punt return in 49 games, encompassing 67 total returns.

"It has been consistent. We've had our ups and downs, but I think over the years we have been reasonably successful with special teams collectively. That's important," Bill Snyder said. "We put a lot of emphasis on it and it's important to us…extremely important to the outcome of ballgames. We have the numbers to show for it."

Senior linebacker Trent Tanking echoed the pride taken at K-State, especially by up-and-coming players on special teams. For most Wildcats, it's their first opportunity to prove they can play and serves as a gateway into a starting role on offense or defense.

"Obviously with Byron, D.J. (Reed), and Matt, they're in the spotlight and have a lot of pressure on them, but it takes 10 other guys," Tanking said. "They've done a great job and I was fortunate enough to be part of those (units) for the last three years, so I know the kind of hard work they had to go through to get the success for everyone else."

Attention to detail is a phrase Wildcats commonly associate to their special teams duties. It could be taking a proper path on a coverage unit. It could be spacing, down to the inch, on a punt protection.

Every little detail matters because the margin for error is miniscule.

"The same thing goes for our long snapper, (senior) Drew Scott. Sometimes as spectators of the sport you don't often notice the laces when he snaps the ball. If they're a quarter-turn off, that throws off our holder. And it's crazy to think about, but Drew knows how many rotations are in the football coming back to the holder," McCrane said. "Then (senior) Mitch Lochbihler, our holder, he knows the exact angle it needs to be at. I just have to trust and know that the ball will be there when I kick it. They make it easy for me."

Individually, each of K-State's major special teams positions were honored in some way.

Reed earned First Team All-Big 12 and Second Team All-America honors as a returner, a result of ranking second nationally in both kickoff-return (35.3) and punt-return average (17.1). The former average currently ranks as both a K-State and Big 12 Conference single-season record.

Pringle, whose special team skills provided a vital kickoff return score against Oklahoma State, notched honorable mention honors from the conference as a returner.

The junior's kickoff-return average of 26.4 yards ranks 12^th nationally, making K-State the only school in the country with two players in the top 15 of that category. If it stands through Tuesday's 8 p.m., game against UCLA, K-State would become the first team since Louisville in the 2010-11 season to have two players in the top 15 for kickoff-return average.

Nick Walsh received a Second Team All-Big 12 nod as a punter. The senior from Lyndon holds a season average of 43.7 yards per punt, the second-best mark in the Big 12.

McCrane, K-State's all-time leader for made field goals, was named a First Team All-Big 12 selection this season. The school's leader for career field goal percentage (88.4) converted 21-of-26 this season, along with making all 43 extra points. McCrane also accepted an invitation to the 2018 East-West Shrine Game on January 20, as did his long snapper in Scott.

"It shows that we put a lot of time into it. The time and effort into it is what makes us successful. (Scott) probably spends more time at snapping a football than I've ever seen. And that's why we're so good at it," McCrane, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, said. "He's consistent. I don't think he's had a failed snap over the five years he's been here or the four years that he's played."

K-State, winners of four of its last five games, looks to bring that same level of special teams consistency to its battle with UCLA. The Wildcats know it could be the difference between a season-ending celebration and a souring defeat.

"It's an important role," Pringle said. "Special teams, it can make or break a game."

"Special teams is a huge part of our game," added Tanking. "We need to win that side of the ball to win Tuesday."

Cactus Bowl Week Coverage

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: Special Teams a Consistent, Deep Force for K-State in 2017

Players Mentioned

Mitch Lochbihler

Byron Pringle

Drew Scott

Trent Tanking

Nick Walsh

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