Texas relying on experienced specialists and better fortunes to improve its special teams

The third phase was a strength for the Texas Longhorns during Steve Sarkisian‘s first three years leading the program. But in 2024, it was pedestrian at best. And even that might be too kind.

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The issues went further than Bert Auburn‘s accuracy problems late in the season. Texas finished No. 117 out of 134 in special teams SP+ last year. Prior to that, the worst showing in SP+ from Jeff Banks‘ unit in SP+ was No. 44 in 2022.

Some of that had to do with Auburn. Some of that had to do with freshman punter Michael Kern‘s injury issues and lack of directional ability, especially when compared to Ryan Sanborn‘s showing from 2023. Some of that had to do with the step down in punt return acumen from All-American Xavier Worthy to Silas Bolden. Some of that had to do with a kickoff return unit ranked No. 81 in the nation.

As Sarkisian typically does, he made a concerted effort following the 2024 season to address a weakness in his program in hopes of turning it into a strength. What followed gave Sarkisian and Banks a specialists unit that’s composed of all elder statesmen.

“From a special teams perspective, the one thing I love is that we’ve got all seniors,” Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days. “I’ve got a senior long snapper, a senior holder, senior punter, senior kicker, senior kickoff guy. So the experiences that they’ve had and what they’ve been through I think is going to serve us well as the season goes on. We’re excited about that unit.”

The senior long snapper is Lance St. Louis. Anonymity is a desired trait for a long snapper. He’s held the role since 2022.

The senior holder is either backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell or punter Jack Bouwmeester.

The senior punter is Bouwmeester, a transfer from Utah. Last season for the Utes, Bouwmeester punted 60 times and averaged 44.7 yards per punt. Bouwmeester had just four touchbacks in 2024. Twenty-four of his punts were fair caught. Twenty-three were downed inside the 20. Thirteen traveled 50 or more yards, with seven of those occurring at stadiums not at altitude.

The senior kicker is Mason Shipley, a transfer from Texas State. Shipley was 15-for-15 in 2023 and 15-for-19 in 2024. Shipley was 13-for-16 from 50 and in in 2024.

The senior kickoff guy is Will Stone. Considering his mention by Sarkisian, Stone looks like he’ll hang onto the job this season. He has 280 career kickoffs with 131 touchbacks and only four kicks out of bounds.

The specialists only do part of the job. Texas has often used starters on offense and defense on special teams under Sarkisian. Last year, according to Pro Football Focus, the following players saw at least 125 special teams snaps:

• LB Liona Lefau – 308 snaps – 5/6 teams
• DB Warren Roberson – 299 snaps – 5/6 teams
• LB Morice Blackwell Jr. – 285 snaps – 5/6 teams
• DB Michael Taaffe – 218 snaps – 5/6 teams
• WR/RB Ryan Niblett – 194 snaps – 4/6 teams
• LB Ty’Anthony Smith – 184 snaps – 3/6 teams
• DB Kobe Black – 176 snaps – 4/6 teams
• TE Gunnar Helm – 176 snaps – 3/6 teams
• DB Gavin Holmes – 173 snaps – 4/6 teams
• DB Jahdae Barron – 146 snaps – 4/6 teams
• LS Lance St. Louis – 143 snaps – 2/6 teams
• P Michael Kern – 133 snaps – 2/6 teams
• DB Jelani McDonald – 126 teams – 5/6 teams
• LB Marshall Landwehr – 126 snaps – 4/6 teams

From that group, Texas loses Blackwell Jr., Helm, Holmes, Barron, and Kern. The Longhorns will need to find players both from the starting and backup ranks to help gain more hidden yardage than in 2024.

One player that could help? Someone from the running backs room. Texas saw three different players in CJ Baxter, Christian Clark, and Velton Gardner suffer season-ending injuries at varying junctures. Because depth at running back was depleted, that meant players from other positions had to step in. Health in 2025 could allow for players like Clark, Rickey Stewart, and James Simon to get snaps on teams after the risk was too great to put a member of Tashard Choice‘s room on the field. After all, Quintrevion Wisner logged 172 special teams snaps in 2023. In 2024? He logged zero.

Four different running backs had at least 69 special teams snaps in 2023. In 2024? Niblett was the only back with more than five, and even he was a WR/RB hybrid weapon last year.

Texas will need to make the most of its talented depth this year on special teams in a way it was not able to in 2024. Improvement there should help the Longhorns return to form on fourth downs and free kicks.

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Texas will also need more from the one to three specialists on the field at a time in order to restore Banks’ side of the ball to “strength” status. Those specialists enter 2025 with plenty of experience and strong track records that they plan on continuing as the Longhorns pursue excellence on offense, defense, and special teams.