Hello, FCS second round. It’s time we talk details.
When you get to the postseason, special teams can be the deciding factor in whether or not you advance. Any head coach will say that during an interview, and they’re not just blowing smoke.
In years past, we here at HERO Sports have made this comparison. Weber State jumps off the page as a program that routinely did well when we put this together, even before it became a perennial power with former coach Jay Hill at the helm (a former Utah special teams’ guru). And what happened? Weber State went from a 2-9 afterthought year after year to an FCS team that could go a few rounds and scare the bluebloods – and special teams was always a focus.
So we decided to break down the teams participating in round two this weekend.
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Which among these have the best special teams units when you stack all 16 of them against each other? Not surprisingly, several of these teams have performed well – thus helping them get into the FCS playoffs.
Going into this weekend’s games, these five teams have the top special teams units according to our criteria.
THE TOP FIVE
1. MERCER
SPECIAL TEAMS COACH: Matt Ulrich
BEST PERFORMING UNITS: Punt coverage unit, Punt return, Number of Field goals made, Field goal success percentage
THE BREAKDOWN: This is an incredibly balanced and well-coached group and has had a ton to do with Mercer’s best season in school history. The truth is, no unit in the criteria has Mercer worse than No. 14 among the 24 teams that qualified for the FCS playoffs. Translation? Of the top teams in the FCS, Mercer clearly has the best special teams unit. The Bears have a consistent field goal kicker, an outstanding punt and return game (both receiving and coverage-wise), and the kickoff game is solidly above average. Return artist Brayden Smith is special. According to our criteria, it isn’t even close that Mercer is No. 1.
2. UIW
SPECIAL TEAMS COACH: Blair Cavanaugh
BEST PERFORMING UNITS: Field goal success percentage, Punt return
THE BREAKDOWN: You have to really like UIW’s kickoff and punt coverage units and return teams – especially with Dekalon Taylor handling punts. The program really does it well in those areas and has no problem when needing three points out of the kicking game, either. Kicker Brack Peacock will get the job done inside 50 yards.
3. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
SPECIAL TEAMS COACH: Pat Cashmore
BEST PERFORMING UNITS: Punt return, Punt return coverage, Kickoff return coverage
THE BREAKDOWN: SDSU didn’t get to be the two-time FCS national champions without being sound in all three phases of the game. The Jackrabbits sported the No. 1 punt return game among playoff teams during the regular season, though Montana and Junior Bergen below may have something to say about that after his first-round heroics in the PR game. The Jackrabbits are sound all the way, with only the kick return (receiving) game being non-elite.
4. MONTANA
SPECIAL TEAMS COACH: Bobby Hauck
BEST PERFORMING UNITS: Punt return, kick return, punt return coverage
THE BREAKDOWN: When you have Junior Bergen on your team, are you really that shocked when your return teams rank up there with the best in the nation? Of course not. And remember, he really made a name for himself last year in the postseason – so don’t be surprised if that happens again. Obviously, teams kicked away from him this year – and he’s still crushing it. Oh, and PS: When you have your head coach checking in on the special teams unit as much as Bobby Hauck does? No wonder the grouping is good.
5. IDAHO
SPECIAL TEAMS COACH: Tyler Sutton
BEST PERFORMING UNITS: Kickoff return, Number of field goals made
THE BREAKDOWN: There’s a reason the Vandals are good this year, and special teams is one of those key reasons. Cameron Pope has been a more than capable placekicker in 2024, and Andrew Marshall also has been one of the top punt/kick returners in the entire FCS.
THE NEXT TIER
6T. MONTANA STATE
BEST UNIT: Net punting
6T. NORTH DAKOTA STATE
BEST UNIT: Kick coverage unit
8. ABILENE CHRISTIAN
BEST UNIT: Kick return unit
9. SOUTH DAKOTA
BEST UNIT: Kick return unit
10. TARLETON STATE
BEST UNIT: Kick coverage unit
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THE REST
11. UC Davis
12. Lehigh
13. UT Martin
14. Illinois State
15. Villanova
16. Rhode Island
