Spring 2021 Breakdown: Special Teams

Throughout the spring, BGSUFalcons.com will breakdown each position for the 2021 BGSU football program. Today, we take a look at special teams.

Part 1 - Tight Ends
Part 2 - Offensive Line
Part 3 - Quarterbacks
Part 4 - Running Backs
Part 5 - Wide Receivers

Bowling Green, Ohio – Newly-minted special teams and safeties coach Bob Ligashesky returns to BGSU after previously holding the special teams position with Lovie Smith and Illinois since 2018. Ligashesky previously coached special teams and linebackers at Bowling Green from 1991-1998, and served as associate head coach, among numerous other duties, in 1999.

Special teams could figure to be the strongest aspect of the Falcons three phases of the game come fall, and it starts with 2020 Campbell Trophy semifinalist Matt Naranjo. Naranjo could very well have his name plastered on the career records section of the BGSU Football record books by the end of the season.

Naranjo is a sixth-year senior who previously punted at New Mexico before transferring and sitting out the 2017 season due to transfer policy rules. Naranjo has found a home in Bowling Green, and has enjoyed success since taking over as the starting punter in mid-2018.

At kicker, Nate Needham has a mentor with proven experience developing the position. Former Falcon Brian Leaver was named AP First Team All-American in 1994 at placekicker under the tutelage of Ligashesky. Needham enters his fourth year with the program, and as a redshirt senior, he is an experienced college kicker at multiple levels who has handled the primary placekicking duties the past two seasons.

James Carolan, from Anthem, Ariz., is the team's long snapper and has enjoyed full-time long snapping duties since stepping foot on campus as a freshman in 2017. He provides much-needed veteran leadership on a team laden with young student-athletes.

Sophomore Jake Rogers, Academic All-MAC in 2020, is expected to remain the punt returner coming out of spring practice, as he has handled punt returning duties sine his true freshman season in 2019. Rogers, who stands at 5-9 and 185 pounds, is lightning quick and can go to the house if given even one distinct lane following a cleanly fielded punt.

Naranjo and Carolan were Academic All-MAC in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Needham was academic All-MAC in both 2019 and 2020 as well. He converted on five of seven field goal attempts and was a perfect six for six on extra points in a shortened 2020 campaign.

Needham, Naranjo, Carolan, and Rogers have an opportunity to assert themselves among the special teams unit as both leaders on and off the field. This will be crucial to BGSU's overall team success, as special teams are as important as the other two phases of the game. Having great special teams is the foundation to building a winning team.

The 2021 Falcons being dialed in on special teams is essential to compete among the best the in the conference week in and week out in the fall, and experienced and mature student-athletes like Naranjo, Needham, Carolan, and Rogers are exactly what it takes. All that's left for these particular student-athletes is to capitalize on their opportunities on the field the exact same way they have off of it in the classroom.

Mason Lawler, a redshirt sophomore, will return for his third season as the primary kickoff specialist.

Standout freshman running back Terion Stewart has gotten reps as the kick returner, although there are surely plenty of young faces among the 65 freshmen in camp to compete for spots within the many special teams units, including the kick returner spot.

Jack Sauder, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn., and Damon Blair, a redshirt junior from Spencerville, Ohio add depth at kicker to compete this spring. Braden Sears is a freshman long snapper from Independence, Ohio, who has potential as the next long snapper. None saw action in a shortened 2020 during their first season with the team.

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James Carolan

Mason Lawler

Matt Naranjo

Nate Needham

Jake Rogers

Jack Sauder

Braden Sears

Terion Stewart

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