2018 SPRING PREVIEW: SPECIALISTS
April 11, 2018
On and off the field the Gophers have some of the top specialists in the country. For the third straight year the Maroon and Gold will have the same starting long snapper, holder and kicker but will be looking to replace punter Ryan Santoso.
Senior Emmit Carpenter had made 36-of-44 career field goals and his 81.8 field goal conversion rate ranks first in program history (minimum 25 attempts). His 36 career field goals rank him seventh in school history. He has made 22-of-29 field goals at TCF Bank Stadium, 13-of-14 on the road and 1-of-1 in neutral-site games. As a sophomore, Carpenter was named Big Ten’s Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year (first Gopher to be honored with this award) and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Redshirt sophomore John Mack and freshman Brock Walker are the other true kickers listed on the Gophers roster. Mack led Arrowhead High School to score 442 total points (31.6 per game) and was named Associated Press All-State and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association First Team in high school. Walker helped lead Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. to three straight 11AAA state championships. He made 13-of-22 field goal attempts, which included a 45-yarder.
Junior Jacob Herbers has started every game the past two seasons at holder and is the lone Gopher on the roster to have punted in a collegiate game. Redshirt freshman Grant Ryerse is the only other punter on the roster. He is a kicker and a punter who is known for a big leg. At East Ridge High School, he made kicks of 55 and 52 yards, notched 37 touchbacks (82%) and averaged 39.4 yards per punt.
Casey O’Brien is a redshirt freshman holder. The former Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback and holder was one of four finalists for the Rare Disease Champion Award given by Uplifting Athletes last season for twice beating cancer.
Senior Payton Jordahl has started every game at long snapper for the past three seasons. He has snapped 389 times in his career (219 punt, 105 point after attempts and 65 field goals) and has notched eight tackles. Redshirt freshman Joe Russell has served as the team’s backup long snapper this spring and Michael Vojvodich will be joining the team this fall. The Annandale, Va. Native was evaluated by the Chris Sailer Kicking Camp in 2017 and was ranked the No. 37 long snapper in his class.
April 11, 2018
On and off the field the Gophers have some of the top specialists in the country. For the third straight year the Maroon and Gold will have the same starting long snapper, holder and kicker but will be looking to replace punter Ryan Santoso.
Senior Emmit Carpenter had made 36-of-44 career field goals and his 81.8 field goal conversion rate ranks first in program history (minimum 25 attempts). His 36 career field goals rank him seventh in school history. He has made 22-of-29 field goals at TCF Bank Stadium, 13-of-14 on the road and 1-of-1 in neutral-site games. As a sophomore, Carpenter was named Big Ten’s Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year (first Gopher to be honored with this award) and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Redshirt sophomore John Mack and freshman Brock Walker are the other true kickers listed on the Gophers roster. Mack led Arrowhead High School to score 442 total points (31.6 per game) and was named Associated Press All-State and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association First Team in high school. Walker helped lead Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. to three straight 11AAA state championships. He made 13-of-22 field goal attempts, which included a 45-yarder.
Junior Jacob Herbers has started every game the past two seasons at holder and is the lone Gopher on the roster to have punted in a collegiate game. Redshirt freshman Grant Ryerse is the only other punter on the roster. He is a kicker and a punter who is known for a big leg. At East Ridge High School, he made kicks of 55 and 52 yards, notched 37 touchbacks (82%) and averaged 39.4 yards per punt.
Casey O’Brien is a redshirt freshman holder. The former Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback and holder was one of four finalists for the Rare Disease Champion Award given by Uplifting Athletes last season for twice beating cancer.
Senior Payton Jordahl has started every game at long snapper for the past three seasons. He has snapped 389 times in his career (219 punt, 105 point after attempts and 65 field goals) and has notched eight tackles. Redshirt freshman Joe Russell has served as the team’s backup long snapper this spring and Michael Vojvodich will be joining the team this fall. The Annandale, Va. Native was evaluated by the Chris Sailer Kicking Camp in 2017 and was ranked the No. 37 long snapper in his class.
