Texas 2025 Roster Audit: Looking for special play from specialists

Inside Texas’ Roster Audit will share what we’re hearing from sources on the development and expectations for each player on the Texas roster. Where we can, we’ll discuss player strengths, weaknesses, and what each needs to work on this offseason.

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During calls to gather information for this series, it was evident Texas has more questions than it did in the last two years, at least when it comes to experience at a handful of key positions. There are also some lingering injury issues, though information on that front is positive.

One thing that isn’t in question, there is a lot of talent on the roster. The amount of times the word ‘stud’ or ‘beast’ was used for players who haven’t played much offers encouragement for the future.

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight Ends
Wide Receivers
Offensive Line
Defensive Tackle
Edge
Linebacker
Safety
Cornerback

Specialists

Bert Auburn, K, Senior: Auburn’s career has seen the high highs and low lows that few positions like kicker can create. In 2023, he nailed all 56 of his extra point attempts and was an impressive 29-for-35 in field goal attempts, including an 8-for-9 output in 20-29 yarders, a perfect 10-for-10 season from 30-39 yards away, and a strong 9-for-12 effort from 40-49 out. He was even 2-for-4 from 50+, hitting his last two attempts from that far out.

But he struggled mightily in 2024, ending the year 16-for-25 and 6-for-14 from 40 yards and out. His late season struggles, including a 1-for-3 day versus Arizona State that saw him miss a potential game winner, apparently cost him the starting job as Will Stone kicked both PAT attempts in the game versus Ohio State. Auburn returns but will have competition in the form of Stone entering both their senior seasons.

Will Stone, K, Senior: Stone has been the kickoff specialist and Auburn’s backup as place-kicker ever since he arrived on the 40 Acres in 2022. But at the tail end of the 2024 season, Auburn’s struggles led to Stone taking the first-string role. He didn’t get to do much in that position, but it became clear heading into the 2025 offseason there would be a competition between the two kickers on scholarship. Jeff Banks elected not to go to the portal for a kicker, meaning competition held throughout the spring, summer, and fall will determine who is the first kicker come August. If nothing else, Stone will remain the kickoff specialist and show off his ability to kick a touchback on almost half his kicks

Jack Bouwmeester, P, Senior: While Texas did not pursue kicking help, the Longhorns did a punter in the form of another Aussie. Bouwmeester was All-Pac 12 first team in 2023 and All-Big 12 second team this past season. During the Utes most recent season, Bouwmeester averaged 44.7 yards per punt over 62 kicks, with just four touchbacks. Twenty-three punts landed inside the 20, and 13 were 50 yards or more. In games at locations under 3000 feet in altitude, Bouwmeester had 19 punts and averaged 43.5 yards per punt with seven inside the 20 and four traveling 50-plus yards. He provides an upgrade at the position, as well as a mentor for the Longhorns’ future at punter.

Michael Kern, P, Sophomore: It wasn’t a fantastic freshman season for Kern. A true freshman from Florida, Kern punted 41 times for 1706 yards, averaging 41.6 yards per punt. Ten were inside the 20, but only four went 50 or more yards and two of those were in the Longhorns’ final two games. Despite the decent stats, Kern wasn’t of the quality seen from Ryan Sanborn in 2023 or even others before him. Directional kicking was not as strong as it had been in recent seasons, and even some of Auburn’s struggles could be attributed to holding issues from Kern. Injury that kept him from punting versus Oklahoma and Georgia obviously had an effect on his first campaign in Austin.

The Longhorns brought in Bouwmeester, but that wasn’t because they’ve given up on Kern. Rather, Texas wants Kern to learn from the Aussie and get a better grasp on some of the finer points of punting, things that seem inconsequential but actually make a difference when trying to angle a kick away from a returner. The future belongs the Kern, who has handled this process well according to people close to the program, but only after Bouwmeester controls the present.

Lance St. Louis, DS, Senior: If this is the first you’ve heard of St. Louis, it means he’s done things right in Austin.

Tate Haver, DS, Junior: If this is the first you’ve heard of Haver, it’s because he’s only played in 2024 blowouts against UTSA and ULM.

Commentary

There was a downtick in the effectiveness of Jeff Banks‘ special teams in 2024. The Longhorns were a strong No. 17 in special teams SP+ in 2023 and plummeted 100 spots to No. 117 in 2024. A lot of that has to do with the yardage part of “hidden yardage” in the punt game, plus the lack of accuracy from Auburn this year compared to last year.

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Competition should breed better results from the place-kicking game, and if Bouwmeester can up the level of Texas’ punting, the Longhorns will find that hidden yardage again and turn special teams into a relative strength.