LSU has struggled in the punting game for the last couple of seasons.
Two seasons ago, the Tigers tried the duo of Peyton Todd and Blake Ochsendorf. It was a disaster. Those two combined to average under 40 yards per punt with one single punt over 50 yards on the season. Even with that, LSU finished 14th in the league in average return yardage allowed which made LSU the worst net punting team in the SEC and among the worst in the country.
Former Grambling special teams coach Aman Anand was brought down from north Louisiana along with punter Grant Chadwick from Middle Tennessee. Things got better, but not a whole lot.
WHO’S BACK: Grant Chadwick (Jr.)
WHO’S NEW: Hayden Criag (Transfer- Florida)
WHAT WE KNOW
Chadwick showed off a strong leg last year. The Middle Tennessee transfer punted 62 times for an average of 45.7 yards with a long of 71. He booted 21 kicks of 50-plus yards and 21 balls inside the 20 yards line.
That’s all good.
The problem LSU had is that the Tigers couldn’t cover them. The 14.7 yard return average was 15th in a 16-team SEC as was the 1.9 returns per game. And the Tigers allowed two punt return touchdowns, something no one else in the SEC allowed. One of those was a block by Arkansas.
KC Concepcion’s sideline-tapping return in Tiger Stadium essentially turned the lights out on the Kelly era.
Lane Kiffin brought in Jow Houston from Florida to run the special teams. Houston brought Canadian redshirt freshman Hayden Craig with him. Chadwick stayed.
Craig did not punt last year. He prepped in Maine and was given five stars by Kohl’s kicking in 2025.
Chadwick has five inches on the 6-foot-1 Craig.
HUNT’S TAKE
This is a competition. And it wouldn’t surprise me to see both punters get some game action. Punting is sometimes difficult to judge because you don’t know the call and intended direction of the punt. What looks like a brilliant punt may be hurting the coverage unit. Sometimes the punter executes and his coverage team fails.
Unquestionably, Chadwick has the leg to punt effectively in the SEC. He was sixth in the league in punting average last year. However, LSU has to be far, far better in net punting whether that’s more effective directional punting or just covering the punts better.
Athletes who can get down the field and tackle are not in short supply.
Obviously, you can’t discount the relationship between Craig and Houston from Florida. It goes back two years from recruiting to coaching.
I’d also like to credit Chadwick for sticking it out. I think this competition goes until the Clemson game. Without a ton of confidence, I’ll give Craig a nod because of his relationship. Last year, Craig sat behind fifth-year senior Tommy Doman who was really good for the Gators, allowing less than a return per game.
