SPECIAL TEAMS
In regards to the NCAA mandated eligibility freeze from the 2020 season, what I’ve learned is that the players eligibility will continue to accrue. Once the player reaches his 4th or 5th season, depending on if the player uses a redshirt season, the player will have the option to return to school for a 5th or 6th season and continue playing one more season. The player will then move from being listed as a senior (Sr.) to a graduate senior (Gr-Sr.)
LONG SNAPPER
2020 players not returning: Brandon Pada (Graduation)
2021 post-spring ball attrition: None
Returning players: Jacob Garcia, Jesse Vasquez
New Faces in 2021: None
2021 OUTLOOK
Sophomore Jesse Vasquez will be one of two players battling for the top spot on the depth chart. As a redshirt freshman in 2020, he did not see any action. As a true freshman in 2019, Vasquez spent the season redshirting. As a senior at Oaks Christian High (CA) in 2018, Vasquez connected on a perfect 110-of-110 on snaps, which included two game-winning field goals, and as a defender, he downed 15 punts. As a junior in 2017, he was perfect once again hitting on 100-of-100 snaps, which included three game-winning field goals, and as a defender, he downed 10 punts. Vasquez was ranked as the 11th-best long snapper in the nation by 247sports.com. He snaps with great explosion and accuracy and has a ton of upside as a snapper. He isn’t afraid to start blocking after he snaps, which is a nice bonus.
The second of the two players is sophomore Jacob Garcia. As a true freshman in 2020, he did not see any action. Garcia ranks as the No. 10 long snapper nationally by 247sports. As a senior at Servite High (CA) in 2019, he finished his career as the No. 3 rated long snapper by Rubio Long Snapping and the No. 4 rated long snapper in the country by Kohl’s Kicking School. Garcia puts his snaps right in the punter or holder’s hands nearly every time. He also excels in his ability to get downfield and tackle once his primary job is complete. He prides himself on his accuracy.
PROJECTED 2021 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
LONG SNAPPER
49 Jacob Garcia (6-0, 245, So., SQ, 3*) OR
50 Jesse Vasquez (5-11, 215, So., SQ, 2*)
PUNTER
2020 players not returning: Chris Bartolic (Transferred to UC-Davis)
2021 post-spring ball attrition: None
Returning players: Sam Hogan, Stephen Kotsanlee
New Faces in 2021: None
2021 OUTLOOK
I fully expect sophomore Stephen Kotsanlee to continue his role as the starting punter. As a true freshman in 2020, he punted in all 6 games and averaged 40.7 yards per punt, with a long punt of 63 yards. He also landed 17 punts inside the 20 and forced 14 fair catches. For his effort, he earned Honorable Mention all-Mountain West honors. He was able to join the Aggies in time for the 2020 winter semester and participate in spring ball. Kotsanlee is a punter from Australia. He has the Aussie style of punting, which brings him outside the pocket on his kicks. He does a good job of creating hangtime which allows the Aggie defenders plenty of time to cover the kick. He has good accuracy and he will only continue to improve. During a brief showing in spring ball, he displayed a to have a powerful leg, which is why the Aggies are bringing him from the other side of the planet.
Backing up Kotsanlee will be sophomore Sam Hogan. As a redshirt freshman in 2020, he sat out the season after transferring to Utah State from Cornell University. As a true freshman in 2019, he redshirted the season at Cornell. As a senior at Glens Falls High (NY) in 2018, he earned New York Class B first-team all-state honors. He scored 67 points during his senior season, while finishing with a 75 percent touchback ratio on kickoffs and converting 95% of his PAT attempts. Sam is an outstanding kicking prospect. He is a great looking athlete with excellent natural talent. He has one of the stronger legs in the class of 2019. He he can hit a great ball on field goal off the ground. Kickoffs are solid. He drives the ball deep with good hang time. He is a competitor that does well under pressure. He has all the tools to have a great college career.
PROJECTED 2021 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
PUNTER
63 Stephen Kotsanlee (6-1, 205, So., 1L, 3*)
62 Sam Hogan (5-11, 180, So., SQ, NR)
KICKER
2020 players not returning: None
2021 post-spring ball attrition: None
Returning Players: Connor Coles, Nels Haltom, Joey Rouly
New Faces in 2021: None
2021 OUTLOOK
Preferred walk-on graduate senior Connor Coles will likely top the depth chart here. As a senior in 2020, he saw action in 4 games and connected on all 3 of his field goal attempts and hit 8 of 9 PATs. As a junior in 2019, he saw action in 1 game, kicking off 3 times during the Aggies win versus Stoney Brook. As a sophomore in 2018, he kicked in 1 game and hit 2 of 2 PAT attempts. By only appearing in one game, Coles was able to retain his redshirt status by sitting out the remainder of the season. As a true freshman in 2017, he saw action in 3 games, handling back-up kickoff duties in the Aggies wins versus Idaho State and at San Jose State. As a senior at Bozeman High (MT) in 2016, Coles hit 6 of 8 field-goal attempts and was 36 of 39 on PATs. Although he has not had the opportunity to display his talent, Coles is a very good kicker and he possesses a strong leg. Coles was rated as a 4.5* prospect by Kohl’s kicking camp and he was highly sought after following his senior season by Oregon State, Montana, and Montana State. Coles will be a good kicker for the Aggies in 2021.
Also competing for the top spot on the depth chart is sophomore Joey Rouly. As a true freshman in 2020, he appeared in all six games and kicked off 19 times for 1,098 yards (57.8 yards per kick) with 3 touchbacks. As a senior at Canyon High (CA) in 2019, Rouly booted 41 kickoffs for 25 touchbacks. He also averaged 35.8 yards per punt, landing 8 inside the 20. He knocked down 6 of 11 field-goal attempts and 17 of 21 PAT attempts. He was also an all-league selection at wide receiver as he hauled in 61 receptions for 1,142 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a junior in 2018, he booted 34 kickoffs for 17 touchbacks. He averaged 32.5 yards per punt, landing 13 inside the 20. He connected on 4 of 9 field-goal attempts and hit all 13 of his PAT attempts. First, Rouly is athletic. He has an incredibly powerful leg and can make an impact on field goals as well as kickoffs. He appears to have an idea of where he wants to position his kicks as opposed to just booting it as hard as he can and that can lead to better accuracy.
Working hard to get on the field is senior Nels Haltom. As a junior in 2020, he connected on 2 of 3 PATs and kicked off 1 time for 40 yards. Haltom joined the Aggies prior to the 2020 following his graduation and transfer from the university of utah. As a sophomore in 2019, he did not see any action. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he did not see any action. As a true freshman at Grossmont Community College (CA) in 2017, he hit 14 of 15 field goal attempts. For his effort he earned first-team Southern California Football Association National Division Southern League honors. Haltom is a good kicker that shows potential to be a great. He is a strong legged kicker that hits a big ball at times
PROJECTED 2021 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
KICKER
59 Connor Coles (5-11, 205, GR-Sr., 1L, NR)
83 Joey Rouly (6-0, 190, So., 1L, NR)
84 Nels Haltom (5-10, 225, Sr., 1L, NR)
PUNT RETURN
2020 Players not returning: None
2021 post-spring ball attrition: None
Returning players: Cam Lampkin, Jordan Nathan, Deven Thompkins
New Faces in 2021: None
2021 OUTLOOK
I see two exceptional return men battling for the top spot on the depth chart in 2021.
First up will be graduate senior Jordan Nathan. As a senior in 2020, he returned 5 punts for 22 yards for an average of 4.4 yards per return. As a junior in 2019, he returned 11 punts for 93 yards for an average of 8.5 yards per return. As a sophomore in 2018, he returned 20 punts for 166 yards (8.3 yards avg.) and 1 touchdown. For his solid season in 2018, Nathan was rewarded with a second-team All-Mountain West Conference (Phil Steele) nod. As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he pulled in 23 punts, returning them for 198 yards, good enough for an (8.5 yards avg.) with a long return of 70 yards. Nathan is described as a “make guys miss in a phone booth” type of punt returner. He has top-level lateral movement and once he gets into the open field he is tough for a defender to track and bring down.
Battling Nathan for the top spot will be senior Deven Thompkins. As a junior in 2020, Thompkins did not see any action in the punt return game. As a sophomore in 2019, Thompkins returned his only fielded punt 45 yards for a touchdown. As a true freshman in 2018, he fielded 6 punts for 55 yards (9.2 yds. avg.). Thompkins is another “make guys miss in a phone booth” guy. He has good hands and is very elusive in the open field. He plays much bigger than his size and he can accelerate once he gets into the open field. It is believed that he is the fastest player on the team.
I can see junior Cam Lampkin getting a chance to show what he can do as a punt returner during fall camp. As a sophomore in.2020, Lampkin did not see any action in the punt return game. As a true freshman in 2019, Lampkin did not get an opportunity to field any punts during the season. As a senior at Poteet High (TX) in 2018, Lampkin fielded 4 kick returns for 249 yards (63.3 yds. avg.) and 1 touchdown and 4 punt returns for 56 yards (14 yds. avg.). Lampkin is an all-purpose player that started at wide receiver, cornerback, and even at quarterback while in high school. He sees the field very well and can make cuts without losing his momentum. He is very dynamic with the ball in his hand and with breakaway speed, he is a threat every play to take it to the house.
PROJECTED 2021 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
PUNT RETURN
0 Jordan Nathan (5-9, 185, GR-Sr., 4L, 2*) OR
13 Deven Thompkins (5-8, 155, Sr., 3L, 2*)
6 Cam Lampkin (5-10, 170, Jr., 2L, 3*)
KICK RETURN
2020 players not returning: None
2021 post-spring ball attrition: None
Returning players: John Gentry, Savon Scarver, Deven Thompkins
New Faces in 2021: None
2021 OUTLOOK
Graduate senior wide receiver Savon Scarver is back and has a firm grip on the starting nod as one of the best kick returners in America. As a senior in 2020, Scarver returned 10 kicks for an average of 31.4 yards per return and 1 touchdown. For his effort, he earned Honorable Mention all-Mountain West honors. As a junior in 2019, Scarver returned 22 kicks for an average of 27.9 yards per return and 2 touchdowns. For his effort, he was named to the Mountain West all-conference first-team. As a sophomore in 2018, he returned 22 kickoffs for 742 yards (33.7 yds. avg.) and 2 touchdowns. For his incredible effort in 2018, he won a slew of awards as he was named a Consensus All-American, Football Writers Association of American (FWAA) first-team All-American, Walter Camp first-team All-American, First-Team All-American (Phil Steele), All-Mountain West Conference first-team, First-Team All-Mountain West Conference (Phil Steele), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) second-team All-American and also the Johnny “The Jet” Award Winner as the nations top kicker returner. As a true freshman in 2017, he returned 26 kicks for 625 yards for a 24.0 (yd. avg.) and 1 touchdown coming in the Aggie loss to New Mexico State in the Arizona Bowl. Scarver is a very confident football player with track speed, who has parlayed that talent in becoming a very good kick returner, as well. He has a top-flight ability to see the hole as it opens and attack it at full speed. Once he is in the open field it is nearly impossible for defenders to catch him.
Senior Deven Thompkins could be tabbed as the guy to back up Scarver. As a junior in 2020, he returned 4 kicks for an average of 19.5 yards per return. As a sophomore in 2019, Thompkins returned 1 kick for 22 yards. As a true freshman in 2018, he returned 1 kick 48 yards. Thompkins is a shorter, quicker, shiftier wide receiver who does most of his damage in the slot. He has good hands and is very elusive in the open field. He excels at making defenders miss and can make big plays whether he is in space with a running start or else stopping on a dime and making a quick juke. He is believed to be one of the fastest players on the team.
I think sophomore John Gentry could have an opportunity here in 2021 as well. As a true freshman in 2020, he returned 5 kicks for an average of 23.6 yards per return. Gentry played his high school football at North Shore High (TX), one of the top programs in the country. As a senior in 2019, Gentry earned first-team all-district honors as a wide receiver after pulling in 18 receptions and scoring 10 touchdowns. As a junior in 2018, he ran for over 900 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. Gentry was a jack-of-all-trades type of player, playing multiple positions throughout his high school career and racking up 3,586 all-purpose yards and 48 touchdowns. Gentry is one of the best running backs entering the conference. He is also a track star who possesses breakaway speed, at 195 pounds, he is already pretty good-sized for a kid making the jump to the collegiate level. He is explosive out of the backfield, bursting through holes and reaching top speed quickly. He easily makes players miss and knows when to bounce to the outside. Playing at the highest level of football for the best high school football program in the State of Texas will have him fully prepared to contribute to the Aggies from day one.
PROJECTED 2021 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
KICK RETURN
11 Savon Scarver (5-11, 175, GR-Sr., 4L, 3*)
13 Deven Thompkins (5-8, 155, Sr., 3L, 2*)
2 John Gentry (5-10, 190, So., 1L, 3*)