Grizzly Football Preview – Special Teams

Part 7 of my position-by-position preview of the University of Montana football team will cover the special teams.

Special teams players cover a wide variety of positions, from kickers and punter, to return men and long snappers, to holders and gunners. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't worry. I'm going to stick to just the kickers and punters, since they are the only players whose focus is purely special teams.

Once again, here's what the Griz have in 2011:

Brody McKnight, Sr.
Sean Wren, Jr.
Matt Berg, Fr.
Chris Lider, Fr.
Stephen Shaw, Fr.

                                                                                                                                                                                                  RETURNING STARTERS: 1

PLAYER TO WATCH: Brody McKnight

SLEEPER: Sean Wren

FUTURE STAR: Stephen Shaw

Brody McKnight is an All-American candidate at kicker. McKnight, who was drafted into the Canadian Football League during the offseason, is just the latest in a long line of storied Grizzly kickers. Last year, McKnight handled a majority of the punting duties last year as well. Sean Wren, who held and then lost the starting spot at punter a year ago. However, Wren has been performing well in fall camp and could be the main punter again this fall. Matt Berg, Chris Lider and Stephen Shaw can all kick and punt, and may redshirt this year. Berg and Lidder project to be better kickers than punters, while Shaw could be the future punter.