FLORENCE, Ala. (August 19, 2023) – One week separates North Alabama Football from its season opener against Mercer on Saturday, August 26 in Montgomery, Ala., as the Lions held their final Saturday practice before games begin this fall.
Today marks the final installment of the UNA Football Notebook's position spotlights, as Saturday's feature highlights the special teams group.
Special teams are a vital part of the game. Within its umbrella is field goals, point after touchdowns (PATs), punts, kickoffs, punt returns, kickoff returns and field goal defense. A number of players will contribute to special teams in one way or another, but today's spotlight goes on the kickers, punters, holders and long snappers.
There are currently five kickers listed on the roster, led by returning redshirt junior
Sam Contorno who enters his fourth season at UNA. Contorno played in all 11 games last year and went 6-7 on field goals with a long of 43 yards. He also nailed all 38 of his extra point attempts and is a perfect 42-42 for his collegiate career. In high school, Contorno also played quarterback and defensive back at Holy Spirit Catholic High School.
Redshirt sophomore
Thomas Dowis was the primary punter for the Lions last season, earning Phil Steele All-ASUN honors following 29 punts for a total of 1,196 yards. He averaged 41.2 yards per punt with a long of 56 yards. He enters his fourth season on the team with a redshirt year in 2020.
Three freshmen are also in this group, including redshirt freshman kicker
Nathan Ogletree who made a 34-yard field goal in UNA's scrimmage last Saturday at Braly Stadium. True freshmen
Adam Watford and
Zach Aird joined the specialist group this year from Dothan, Ala. and McKenzie, Tenn., respectively.
Two players listed at long snapper are redshirt freshman
Evan Godwin and true freshman
Nathan Curry. Godwin enters his second season at UNA by way of Andalusia, Ala. Meanwhile, Curry enters his rookie campaign as a 2021 All-State specialist at Stewarts Creek High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Overseeing the group is special teams coordinator
Luke Roth, who joined the staff in December of 2022. Roth worked with Dearmon both at Bethel and Kansas, and the pair also happened to be teammates at Bethel where Roth punted and Dearmon played quarterback. Another fun fact about Roth — he filled in as the Jayhawks Special Teams Coordinator against West Virginia during the 2020 season and Kansas had a kickoff return for a touchdown to show for it. It was the first kickoff return for a score for the Jayhawks since 2016.
"(Practice has been) going good," said Roth. "There's a lot of competition for all the positions — not just specialist wise, but guys that are going to be on punt, kickoff and the other core four units. We're trying to get some young guys involved a little bit more, but we've been competing since the spring. Things are looking pretty good for us right now."
Today's interviews include Coach Roth and Contorno.
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