Special teams came with mixed results last season for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
UAPB ranked second in the SWAC in kickoff returns but last in kickoffs. UAPB missed one extra point all season but struggled to make field goals.
The job of improving the faults and building on the strengths this offseason fell to newly hired special teams coordinator Chris Forestier, but he left to work for the University of Texas after just over two months in Pine Bluff.
Whoever takes over that role will have a mixture of returning specialists and newcomers to piece together into a successful unit.
Senior Jeremy Baker returns at punter. Last season, UAPB ranked fifth in the SWAC, averaging a net of 35.5 yards per punt. Baker’s punts led the SWAC in fair catch signals with 23, and he had four touchbacks. Baker averaged 39 yards per punt and 2.5 yards per return.
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UAPB needed solid punting, because Baker was called upon often. UAPB punted a SWAC-leading 78 times, leading to Baker totaling 3,045 total punt yards. Mississippi Valley State punted the second-most often with 75 punts, with Bethune-Cookman coming in third with 66.
Although the Golden Lions were solid at punting the ball, they weren’t as great at returning punts. Their 8.4 yards per return ranked eighth, though they were one of five teams to score a punt return touchdown.
But while UAPB struggled at returning punts, it was among the SWAC’s best at returning kickoffs. UAPB averaged 20.6 yards per return, just shy of Alabama State’s 20.7. The Golden Lions tied with Grambling State for the most kickoff returns in the league with 48, though UAPB’s 990 return yards easily beat GSU’s 809.
Rising junior defensive back Jewel Fletcher was UAPB’s primary punt returner, and he is back this season, but the Golden Lions must replace their main two kickoff returners, wide receivers Maurice Lloyd and Donald Johnson III.
Fletcher returned five punts for 22 yards and eight kickoffs for 117 yards last season.
UAPB will feature a new kicker this season following the departure of senior Dean Sarris. The Golden Lions ranked last both in kickoffs, with a net average of 34.3 yards per kickoff, and field goals. Sarris made two of nine field goal attempts with a long of 25 yards. He made two of three from inside 30 yards. He made 20 of 21 point after attempts.
Two kickers will attempt to replace him this season. Trey Glymph, who has been with UAPB since 2022, backed up Sarris and handled kicking duties during spring practice. He has not attempted a collegiate field goal but is four of four on extra points.
Freshman Braden Ducharme transferred after spring practice from Austin Peay after not appearing in a game and will compete with Glymph for the starting role.
Also of note, last year’s longsnapper, Thomas Reny, transferred after the season. UAPB added a late high school commitment from longsnapper Rio Hay from Dripping Springs High School in Texas to help address that position.
UAPB has not announced a new special teams coordinator as of the writing of this story, but head coach Alonzo Hampton has some special teams coaching in his background. He served as special teams coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe before taking over at UAPB.