Jeff Banks breaking in new specialists for Texas in 2022
Texas’ special teams coordinator Jeff Banks has been tasked with finding a new kicker and punter for the 2022 season. And he’s ready for the challenge.
His first assignment is replacing Cameron Dicker, the four-year starter for the Longhorns who provided the kicking and punting duties in 2021 who is now with the Los Angeles Rams. He tallied 49 punts, for a 45.59 average, 16 punts of 50+ yards, and a long of 78 yards. He went 13-for-15 with an 86.76% on field goals, with a 50-yard field goal being his longest last season. Dicker and Bert Auburn handled kickoff duties.
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Has Banks ever entered a season without an incumbent at both spots?
“I don’t know if I have,” said Banks. “I know there’s been different places that I’ve stopped that I’ve been where we did have to have new players. I don’t know that they’ve all been so young. I think the Lord for Zach Edwards, who’s our snapper, that’s a veteran. And had the best summer from any specialists I’ve had. Cameron Dicker was phenomenal (last year). And we tried to use him to the advantages that he gave us and he had a phenomenal, not only career, but he had a phenomenal year for us. I don’t know if we’ll replace that. But what we have to do right, is we have to evaluate the kicking and the punting position with these guys in the next probably 15 to 20 days.
What’s been a benefit to Banks and the coaching staff this summer?
“For the first time in my career, 23 years, we were able to go out and use a ball with them and coaching and so that really helped the specialists and the returners because I’ve never been able to be on the field in the summer up until this summer, where I can be with them and teach them individual technique while I’m watching them right there. I think that’s going to help. Bert Auburn and Will Stone will be the two guys obviously, that will compete for the field goal and the kickoff jobs. We have another player named Gabriel Lozano (Austin (Texas) Westlake grad) who transferred to us from Texas Tech, who provides some really, really good stability there. So I feel good. We have three legs that I that I have confidence in. It’s going to be interesting to see how this competition goes.”
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As for punting, it appears to be Isaac Pearson’s, the redshirt freshman from Newcastle, Australia, job to lose.
“Isaac (Pearson) has had a phenomenal spring ball,” Banks said. “He’s mature because he’s a little bit older being an Australian that isn’t in the traditional high school to college scenario. And he’s the hardest worker we have on our team. So I’m excited about Isaac in the planning situation, and then we’re going to look to add one more punter here in the next couple of days that will compete with him as a walk-on.”
The Longhorns have had plenty of success at the kicking and punting positions over the years with Kris Stockton, Dusty Mangum, Hunter Lawrence, and Justin Tucker at kicker and Ray Guy Award winner Michael Dickson at punter. But it’s hard to recall the last time the Horns entered a season without having solid experience at both spots. Banks is here to fix that.
