2015 in Review: Special Teams
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Photo: Eric Evans
Reviewing Oregon’s 2015 season and looking ahead to spring drills.
DEPTH CHART
PK: Aidan Schneider, So.; Matt Wogan, Jr.
P: Ian Wheeler, So.; Matt Wogan, Jr.; Blake Maimone, Fr.
LS: Tanner Carew, So.; Devin Melendez, So.
HLD: Taylor Alie, So.; Ian Wheeler, So.
KOR: Charles Nelson, So.; Byron Marshall, Sr.
PR: Bralon Addison, Jr.; Charles Nelson, So.
Starters: A lifelong soccer player, Aidan Schneider needs to accept it — he’s a football player now, and a heck of a kicker. The unflappable sophomore from Portland made 22-of-24 attempts in 2015, including all six kicks from 40 yards and out. Schneider’s 133 points were third all-time at Oregon for a single season, and most for a kicker. In the process he earned a scholarship, awarded during Oregon’s bowl practice season. The other half of the Ducks’ placekicking duo, Matt Wogan, finished third in the FBS with 62 touchbacks, and his 63.76 yards average on kickoffs ranked ninth in the country. Not a bad tandem, providing stability at a position where it’s lacked at times over the previous decade.
Long snapper Tanner Carew was as consistent as it gets, as was holder Taylor Alie. Punter Ian Wheeler was a little more up-and-down. Wheeler averaged 39.8 yards per punt and pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line 13 times, numbers he’ll try to improve upon in 2016. Among the returners, Byron Marshall was averaging 27.5 yards on kickoffs prior to his injury, after which Charles Nelson took over. His 100-yard return for a touchdown at Arizona State was a game-changer, as was punt returner Bralon Addison’s 81-yarder at Michigan State; had Marshall hauled in a potential game-winning touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter, Addison’s return would have been one of the plays of the year.
SPRING PROJECTION
PK: Aidan Schneider, Jr.; Matt Wogan, Sr.
P: Ian Wheeler, Jr.; Blake Maimone, RFr.
LS: Tanner Carew, Jr.; Devin Melendez, Jr.
HLD: Taylor Alie, Jr.; Ian Wheeler, Jr.
KOR: Charles Nelson, Jr.; Kirk Merritt, So.
PR: Charles Nelson, Jr.; Darren Carrington, Jr.
What to watch: With essentially everyone back, there won’t be a ton of news coming out of the special teams units leading up to the 2016 campaign, barring the unforeseen. Schneider’s position is secure at this point, and Wheeler just needs to be more consistent. Assuming Nelson becomes the primary returner, the question will be who replaces Addison as the other deep man on kickoffs. There will be a ton of candidates, from Ugo Amadi to Ty Griffin to Tony Brooks-James and more, so Kirk Merritt is included above in pencil rather than pen.
