'15 P Tommy Townsend (UT Signee 2/4/15)

#126
#126
I'll go ahead and say it: punters and long snappers don't deserve scholarships. The benefit of having a scholarship punter or long snapper instead of an average walk-on player at those positions is negligible, while the cost of losing two scholarship players at positions with scarce talent (linemen) or frequent injuries (RBs, DBs) is too high.

Don't believe me? Here are some facts about the true "value" of scholarship specialists in college football:

  • In 2010, "fourteen of the top-25 teams trot out kickers that walked on, and in the past five years, starting kickers who walked on to ranked teams have outperformed those who earned scholarships out of high school. This year, starting walk-ons for top-25 teams have made 93% of their field goals."
  • In 2012, "at least 16 of the 121 FBS non-academies don't have a kicker who was offered a scholarship directly out of high school or junior college. That list includes such heavyweight programs as Oklahoma and Wisconsin."
  • Several recent Lou Groza award-winners began their careers as college walk-ons: Texas A&M's Randy Bullock (2011), Oklahoma State's Dan Bailey (2010), Louisville's Art Carmody (2006) and Oregon State's Alexis Serna (2005).
  • Many schools - including Gary Pinkel's Missouri team - have stopped offering kickers scholarships out of high school because too many of their scholarship recruits were getting beaten out by walk-ons.
  • In 2012 only 25 of the 121 non-academies in the FBS ranks had long snappers who were awarded scholarships directly out of high school or junior college.
  • This past year, only 35 kickers and 17 punters were committed to sign a letter of intent at a FCS or FBS school. "Jamie Kohl, co-founder of Kohl’s Professional Camps in Wisconsin, says each year, about 50 kickers and punters combined, give or take 10, will sign with an FCS school."

Given our roster needs and the players we're still recruiting, we're going to seriously regret offering Townsend and Lovingood come January.
 
#127
#127
AboveAllNations said:
I'll go ahead and say it: punters and long snappers don't deserve scholarships. The benefit of having a scholarship punter or long snapper instead of an average walk-on player at those positions is negligible, while the cost of losing two scholarship players at positions with scarce talent (linemen) or frequent injuries (RBs, DBs) is too high.

Don't believe me? Here are some facts about the true "value" of scholarship specialists in college football:

  • In 2010, "fourteen of the top-25 teams trot out kickers that walked on, and in the past five years, starting kickers who walked on to ranked teams have outperformed those who earned scholarships out of high school. This year, starting walk-ons for top-25 teams have made 93% of their field goals."
  • In 2012, "at least 16 of the 121 FBS non-academies don't have a kicker who was offered a scholarship directly out of high school or junior college. That list includes such heavyweight programs as Oklahoma and Wisconsin."
  • Several recent Lou Groza award-winners began their careers as college walk-ons: Texas A&M's Randy Bullock (2011), Oklahoma State's Dan Bailey (2010), Louisville's Art Carmody (2006) and Oregon State's Alexis Serna (2005).
  • Many schools - including Gary Pinkel's Missouri team - have stopped offering kickers scholarships out of high school because too many of their scholarship recruits were getting beaten out by walk-ons.
  • In 2012 only 25 of the 121 non-academies in the FBS ranks had long snappers who were awarded scholarships directly out of high school or junior college.
  • This past year, only 35 kickers and 17 punters were committed to sign a letter of intent at a FCS or FBS school. "Jamie Kohl, co-founder of Kohl’s Professional Camps in Wisconsin, says each year, about 50 kickers and punters combined, give or take 10, will sign with an FCS school."

Given our roster needs and the players we're still recruiting, we're going to seriously regret offering Townsend and Lovingood come January.
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IMO, no we won't. If you want a top caliber K or P, it's going to cost you a scholarship. Could you throw a walk-on out there and hope it turns out alright? Sure. I'm all for Butch securing us talented kids on special teams. If that costs us a scholarship, so be it.
 
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#128
#128
AboveAllNations said:
I'll go ahead and say it: punters and long snappers don't deserve scholarships. The benefit of having a scholarship punter or long snapper instead of an average walk-on player at those positions is negligible, while the cost of losing two scholarship players at positions with scarce talent (linemen) or frequent injuries (RBs, DBs) is too high.

Don't believe me? Here are some facts about the true "value" of scholarship specialists in college football:

  • In 2010, "fourteen of the top-25 teams trot out kickers that walked on, and in the past five years, starting kickers who walked on to ranked teams have outperformed those who earned scholarships out of high school. This year, starting walk-ons for top-25 teams have made 93% of their field goals."
  • In 2012, "at least 16 of the 121 FBS non-academies don't have a kicker who was offered a scholarship directly out of high school or junior college. That list includes such heavyweight programs as Oklahoma and Wisconsin."
  • Several recent Lou Groza award-winners began their careers as college walk-ons: Texas A&M's Randy Bullock (2011), Oklahoma State's Dan Bailey (2010), Louisville's Art Carmody (2006) and Oregon State's Alexis Serna (2005).
  • Many schools - including Gary Pinkel's Missouri team - have stopped offering kickers scholarships out of high school because too many of their scholarship recruits were getting beaten out by walk-ons.
  • In 2012 only 25 of the 121 non-academies in the FBS ranks had long snappers who were awarded scholarships directly out of high school or junior college.
  • This past year, only 35 kickers and 17 punters were committed to sign a letter of intent at a FCS or FBS school. "Jamie Kohl, co-founder of Kohl’s Professional Camps in Wisconsin, says each year, about 50 kickers and punters combined, give or take 10, will sign with an FCS school."

Given our roster needs and the players we're still recruiting, we're going to seriously regret offering Townsend and Lovingood come January.
Click to expand...

When Medley kicks it through the uprights on the opening kick off against Utah State this post will be long forgotten.

Missouri had one of, if not the worst kickers in college last year. Believe he missed 2 XPs in the Georgia game.

It's in our roots as a program to have a "sound kicking game".
 
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#129
#129
AboveAllNations said:
I'll go ahead and say it: punters and long snappers don't deserve scholarships. The benefit of having a scholarship punter or long snapper instead of an average walk-on player at those positions is negligible, while the cost of losing two scholarship players at positions with scarce talent (linemen) or frequent injuries (RBs, DBs) is too high.

Don't believe me? Here are some facts about the true "value" of scholarship specialists in college football:

  • In 2010, "fourteen of the top-25 teams trot out kickers that walked on, and in the past five years, starting kickers who walked on to ranked teams have outperformed those who earned scholarships out of high school. This year, starting walk-ons for top-25 teams have made 93% of their field goals."
  • In 2012, "at least 16 of the 121 FBS non-academies don't have a kicker who was offered a scholarship directly out of high school or junior college. That list includes such heavyweight programs as Oklahoma and Wisconsin."
  • Several recent Lou Groza award-winners began their careers as college walk-ons: Texas A&M's Randy Bullock (2011), Oklahoma State's Dan Bailey (2010), Louisville's Art Carmody (2006) and Oregon State's Alexis Serna (2005).
  • Many schools - including Gary Pinkel's Missouri team - have stopped offering kickers scholarships out of high school because too many of their scholarship recruits were getting beaten out by walk-ons.
  • In 2012 only 25 of the 121 non-academies in the FBS ranks had long snappers who were awarded scholarships directly out of high school or junior college.
  • This past year, only 35 kickers and 17 punters were committed to sign a letter of intent at a FCS or FBS school. "Jamie Kohl, co-founder of Kohl’s Professional Camps in Wisconsin, says each year, about 50 kickers and punters combined, give or take 10, will sign with an FCS school."

Given our roster needs and the players we're still recruiting, we're going to seriously regret offering Townsend and Lovingood come January.
Click to expand...

I don't think we are trying to be most schools. We are trying to be the best school. That takes great offense, great defense and great special teams.

Did you really bring Gary Pinkell into a recruiting conversation?
 
#130
#130
AboveAllNations said:
I'll go ahead and say it: punters and long snappers don't deserve scholarships. The benefit of having a scholarship punter or long snapper instead of an average walk-on player at those positions is negligible, while the cost of losing two scholarship players at positions with scarce talent (linemen) or frequent injuries (RBs, DBs) is too high.

Don't believe me? Here are some facts about the true "value" of scholarship specialists in college football:

  • In 2010, "fourteen of the top-25 teams trot out kickers that walked on, and in the past five years, starting kickers who walked on to ranked teams have outperformed those who earned scholarships out of high school. This year, starting walk-ons for top-25 teams have made 93% of their field goals."
  • In 2012, "at least 16 of the 121 FBS non-academies don't have a kicker who was offered a scholarship directly out of high school or junior college. That list includes such heavyweight programs as Oklahoma and Wisconsin."
  • Several recent Lou Groza award-winners began their careers as college walk-ons: Texas A&M's Randy Bullock (2011), Oklahoma State's Dan Bailey (2010), Louisville's Art Carmody (2006) and Oregon State's Alexis Serna (2005).
  • Many schools - including Gary Pinkel's Missouri team - have stopped offering kickers scholarships out of high school because too many of their scholarship recruits were getting beaten out by walk-ons.
  • In 2012 only 25 of the 121 non-academies in the FBS ranks had long snappers who were awarded scholarships directly out of high school or junior college.
  • This past year, only 35 kickers and 17 punters were committed to sign a letter of intent at a FCS or FBS school. "Jamie Kohl, co-founder of Kohl’s Professional Camps in Wisconsin, says each year, about 50 kickers and punters combined, give or take 10, will sign with an FCS school."

Given our roster needs and the players we're still recruiting, we're going to seriously regret offering Townsend and Lovingood come January.
Click to expand...





From my years of watching college football I believe that a great punter can change the field for a team and put them in a position to be able to score on the other team. The kicking game was very important to Gen. Neyland and had a lot to do with his winning record. To me, if we have to give scholarships to a punter, kicker and long snapper to help get us wins it is worth it. Most fans would rather have a 58 yard punt with no return than they would a 26 yard punt with no return. The possibility of getting top punters and kickers from walk-ons is not too high in my opinion, you might get some that's fair but not really top of the line. JMO
 
#133
#133
LebanonVolunteer said:
IMO, no we won't. If you want a top caliber K or P, it's going to cost you a scholarship. Could you throw a walk-on out there and hope it turns out alright? Sure. I'm all for Butch securing us talented kids on special teams. If that costs us a scholarship, so be it.
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Apparently, he/she knows very little about football and the kicking game.
 
#137
#137
VolsDoc81TX said:
Game, set, match goes to Volatil!

He just kicked the ever-lovin' S&$€ outta thAt other guy :)

Pun intended :popcorn:
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tumblr_mkc2shCiHE1rnua94o1_500.gif
 
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#145
#145
I will say, there was kicker there that just killed it. Dude was unreal. Kicking into the stands from the 35 on KO.
 
#146
#146
When you watch his highlights, his team doesnt even run down the field on kickoffs because they know its going into/over the endzone

EDIT: nevermind. spring game. neither team did anything on special team plays
 
Last edited:
#147
#147
volatil said:
I will say, there was kicker there that just killed it. Dude was unreal. Kicking into the stands from the 35 on KO.
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If it's the same guy, my little bro said he was an absolute beast but hadn't been camping much, so his ranking wasn't as high as it should be.
 
#148
#148
ACvol3 said:
If it's the same guy, my little bro said he was an absolute beast but hadn't been camping much, so his ranking wasn't as high as it should be.
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He had already graduated HS and it has to be the same guy. He told Jr that he hoped to land at MTSU.

Freaking monster. The only people in the stands were parents of campers and we were all saying "someone get Butch out here to see this".
 
#149
#149
Butch is freaking me out with all of these commits lately. 2 stars, 3 stars, and a punter. We better finish with 2 or 3 five stars and 2 or three 4 stars. Just sayin'. He must be feeling good about something. :whistling:
 
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