Toledo vs Iowa State football: Previewing the Rockets special teams

The special teams are a mixed bag for Toledo, but their field goal kicker is experienced and there’s certainly a return man who they’ll want to kick away from.

Place kicker

Jeremiah Detmer (#85, 5-8, 180 lbs., Sr)

The senior’s gone 9-for-12 this season, but he’s been the main guy for the last three years and has missed just 6 out of 49 field goal attempts in his sophomore and junior seasons combined.

His three misses this year wear from 28, 44, and 48 with one being blocked. When in doubt, expect the Rockets to go with their surefire kicker from 40 yards out and inward.

Punter

Nick Ellis (#48, 5-11, 170 lbs., So)

The sophomore newcomer isn’t great, but he hasn’t been bad. He lacks a powerful leg, his longest punt being a 47-yarder, but he’s nailed 9 of his 21 attempts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

A player to keep an eye on freshman Michael Julian, if he appears. He has one punt, but it was a 65-yard bomb that stayed inside Missouri’s 20 yard line. However, he hasn’t appeared in the last three games.

Returners

KR: Kishon Wilcher (#6, 5-7, 180 lbs., Jr)
PR: Corey Jones (#4, 5-8, 165 lbs., So)

Kishon Wilcher averages 24.7 yards per carry on 12 kick returns and is the lead man on kickoffs, but Corey Jones has made an impact on the entire return game. On kickoffs, he averages 20.5 yards on 8 carries and on punts he’s getting 10.6 yards on 11 returns.

Jones lines up in the middle at wide receiver on the Toledo offense and his second on the team in receiving yards (417) on 36 catches and has recorded 2 touchdowns. The next best receiver is Justin Olack, who’s recorded 179 yards on 12 catches for 2 touchdowns.

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