The unique 2021 FCS spring season is here.
As of this writing, only a limited number of teams have opted out of the spring. With each passing day, it gets more likely this unprecedented season is going to happen. So it’s time to start looking at the top returning players.
This series will look at the top returning player at each position in every conference.
*Not included in these rankings:
- Conferences that have opted out as of the publish date
- Players on teams that have opted out as of the publish date
- Players who are in the transfer portal as of the publish date
Big Sky
DJ Arnson, Northern Arizona
A HERO Sports Spring Preseason All-American, Arnson led the Big Sky and was third in the FCS in 2019 with a punt average of 45.8 yards. Nineteen of his punts were inside the 20-yard line.
Big South
Jack Pawloski, Gardner-Webb
Pawloski averaged 41.9 yards per punt in 2019. Twelve of his punts were over 50 yards, and 16 were downed inside the 20-yard line.
CAA
Nathan Fondacaro, Villanova
Fondacaro was a 2019 All-CAA First Team selection. He had an average of 44.5 yards per punt, booted eight punts of 50 yards or longer, and had 13 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
MVFC
Brady Schutt, South Dakota
A 2019 First Team All-MVFC pick, Schutt was fourth in the FCS with his 45.1 yards per punt. Nineteen of his punts went over 50 yards, and he pinned eight punts inside the 10-yard line.
NEC
Eric Silvester, Wagner
Silvester was named to the 2019 All-NEC First Team. He averaged 39.9 yards per punt and had 27 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
OVC
Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State
Mosley led the OVC in 2019 with a 42.2 yards per punt average. Eight of his punts went over 50 yards, and 12 were placed inside the 20-yard line.
Patriot
N/A
Every Patriot League team playing this spring is starting a new punter.
Pioneer
Andrew Foster, Morehead State
Foster was an All-Conference honorable mention selection in 2018 and was named to the Second Team in 2019. Along with serving as the team’s primary kicker, he punted 53 times with an average of 41.7 yards.
SoCon
Matthew Campbell, The Citadel
Campbell is a two-time All-SoCon First Team selection and a 2019 HERO Sports Third Team All-American. He has averaged over 44 yards a punt in 2018 and 2019.
Southland
Matt McRobert, Sam Houston
With an average of 44.3 yards per punt, highlighted by 20 punts of 50 or more yards with only three touchbacks, McRobert earned multiple All-American honors in 2019, along with being named to the All-Southland First Team.
SWAC
Caleb Darbone, Prairie View A&M
Darbone was named on the Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Team. In 2019, he averaged 37.5 yards per punt with seven punts landing inside the 20-yard line.
NEXT: Spring Preseason Top 25
NEXT: Spring Preseason All-American Team
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