Kentucky Football Bye Week Report Card: Special Teams

The third phase can win football games. Kicking games can also play a big role in average starting field position. Second-year special teams coordinator Jay Boulware had a unit that entered the season with very high expectations. Some aspects of the kicking operation have exceeded high expectations while others have been short of the mark through five games.

KSR is breaking out another report card. Let’s recap what we’ve seen from Kentucky’s special teams in 2024.

Kentucky Report Card: Offense

Kentucky Report Card: Defense

Placekicker

Georgia Southern transfer Alex Raynor was superb for Kentucky in 2023. The former Sun Belt kicker poured in 10-of-11 field goal attempts with the only miss coming from 50-plus yards away. The transfer set a program record for season field goal make percentage (90.91%).

Raynor has somehow been better in 2024.

The super senior is 11-of-11 on field goal attempts with five makes from 40-plus yards and two from 50-plus. Raynor has been a big help to an offense with issues in plus territory. Raynor is putting together an All-American campaign.

Grade: A+

Punter

Kentucky added UT Martin transfer Aidan Laros to the roster in May and that felt like a huge personnel addition for the kicking game. The FCS All-American averaged 47.3 yards per punt last year in the FCS with 18 of 52 attempts traveling 50+ yards. Expectations were very high.

However, Laros lost the starting punting job to incumbent Wilson Berry. We’re starting to learn why after a rocky performance against Ole Miss.

The Wildcats currently rank No. 56 overall in net punting average (39.56). That’s an improvement from last season but still needs to be better. Kentucky’s offense currently ranks No. 128 overall in average starting field position. Flipping the field in the punting game has been an issue and that problem is magnified with Kentucky’s ground-and-pound style of play.

Kentucky’s punting game is improved but is not meeting preseason expectations.

Grade: C-

Return Game

Barion Brown is one of the top kickoff returners in college football. That gave Kentucky’s return game a high ceiling entering 2024 but we are still waiting for that first big game-swinging play.

The junior wide receiver is averaging under 19 yards per return on seven attempts and then inefficiency in a perceived area of strength is not helping the Wildcats in the field position battle. On punt returns, North Texas transfer Ja’Mori Maclin has struggled to field kicks and has yet to pop a big return.

Kentucky’s kick coverage has been solid to start the season but the return game is falling short of expectations and is hurting the team in the hidden yardage battle.

Grade: C-

Overall Grade: B-

Alex Raynor is making a case for the best placekicker in college football. The super senior has been nails and played a big role in the team having a chance to win against both Georgia and Ole Miss. Raynor has impacted winning.

Unfortunately, the rest of the kicking game is falling short of expectations.

Kentucky’s return game was supposed to be a team strength, and that has not been true through five games. Punting is improved but still needs to be better. Field position has been a problem and the third phase has a direct impact on that.

Raynor is carrying this group. Kentucky has not been truly bad in the third phase but certainly needs improved play in multiple areas.