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Special teams has often been an area of underperformance in the Billy Napier era. Sloppy mistakes and missed opportunities have, at times, defined Florida’s season in critical moments. 

This year, Florida returns its starting kicker, punter and long snapper. Napier also hired senior analyst Joe Houston in the offseason to assist GameChanger coordinator Chris Couch in managing the special teams unit.

Returning junior Trey Smack will take on place kicking duties for the Gators. The 2023 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award semifinalist was perfect on PATs (29-29) and made all but four field goal attempts (17-21) last season. Smack was also a two-time SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in wins against Charlotte (5-5 FG) and South Carolina (4-5 FG).  

Smack was named to the preseason Lou Groza Award watch list in early August. He was an excellent place kicker last season and is likely to replicate his success this season.

2023 AP All-Second Team punter Jeremy Crawshaw returns for his senior season. Crawshaw had an exceptional junior campaign in which he averaged a program-record 47 yards per punt and landed 15 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. He enters the 2024-25 season as one of the best punters in the country.

Check out our position-by-position preview of the 2024 Florida Gators: Quarterback, Running Backs, Wide Receivers / Tight Ends, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Linebackers, Defensive Backs

Long snapper Rocco Underwood will once again start for the Gators. The RS junior appeared in every game last season.

Florida’s kickoff and punt returners for the fall remain to be determined. Wide receivers such as Eugene Wilson III and Tank Hawkins have been getting reps at the position along with running back Montrell Johnson before his injury. 

While Florida has plenty of talent at special teams, execution has been a major area of concern. Napier hired Houston, a New England special teams assistant, in January. He will work alongside Couch in the fall.

The performance of the special teams unit could make or break Florida’s season. Miscues like missing players on PATs and punts would be more costly than ever considering the schedule. Only time will tell if Houston and Couch can correct the errors of the last two years.