Bulls look to strengthen special teams for next season

The football team last returned a kick for a touchdown on Sept. 20, 2008.

Last season, the return game ranked 12th in the Mid-American Conference in kickoff returns, tallying just 850 yards and zero touchdowns.

The return game is still a question mark for the Bulls, with a variety of players capable of returning the ball.

Senior Okoye Houton handled kickoffs for the Bulls last year, averaging 19.1 yards on 13 returns, while senior Cordero Dixon returned 10 punts for 31 yards. Sophomore Devin Campbell and senior Brandon Murie stepped into the rotation multiple times during the season as well.

"It's the schemes; it's the blocking; it's the tackling; it's covering; it's holding people up so returners can get the ball so they can hit some seams so they can hit some big plays," said head coach Jeff Quinn. "It's been too long [since] we have had kickoff return for a touchdown or a punt return for a touchdown. Way too long."

Campbell returned 10 kicks for 219 yards but was forced out of the role when he became the team's featured running back after an injury to senior running back Branden Oliver.

Although special teams is primarily filled with backups or substitutes on the team's offensive and defensive units, it is perhaps the most important aspect on the football field.

It is an aspect of the game that Quinn says can help make his team stronger.

"It's really a full-team effort in really buying in to the totality of how important special teams is in changing field position and potentially putting some points on the board so we can get ourselves with some shorter fields," Quinn said. "[Also to] get our offense in a closer proximity."

The Bulls did see success in blocking kicks last season with the help of senior defensive back Adam Redden, who helped end a 10-year drought.

Redden blocked a punt that resulted in a 33-yard touchdown by Kyndal Minniefield, which gave Buffalo its first punt return for a touchdown since Sept. 2002.

"For a stretch there, [Redden] had a number of blocked kicks and punts," Quinn said. "I really like where we are with him along with Khalil Mack and a number of other defensive guys, and we've got some tremendous schemes."

With the graduation of kicker and punter Peter Fardon, the Bulls were left to fill an empty spot on their roster last season. Junior kicker Patrick Clarke and freshman punter Tyler Grassman handled the kicking game last season.

Clarke netted 11 of 15 field goals and went 28 for 29 on extra points, ranking him 10th in the conference in kicking.

On Nov. 3 against Miami Ohio, Clarke blasted a 47-yard field goal as time expired to give Buffalo a win that jump-started a three-game win streak.

"Pat has great sense for the game," Quinn said. "A real quality competitor. Somebody that is always locked in and mentally prepared. He has spent a lot of time evaluating himself. He is a very detailed guy, very particular with little things in detail."

Clarke also hit a 49-yard field goal against Western Michigan, placing him 10th on the list in the UB record books for longest field goal.

Grassman averaged 34.9 net yards and totaled three touchbacks, ranking him last in the conference in punting.

The hope is that his experience will bring him to another level this next season.

"Tyler Grassman, we started him as a true freshman as a punter," Quinn said. "He did a real nice job for us. I'm excited have our two [kickers] back."

The Bulls will look to improve their special teams unit before the Blue-White scrimmage, which will take place April 20 at 2 p.m. at UB Stadium.

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