Position breakdown: special teams

GamecockCentral is breaking down each position on the football field heading into the 2017 season, with a new position each Monday. This season’s inaugural position is the special teams unit.

Each week we’ll break down each position, discussing the player to watch and a newcomer who could make an impact this season.

The skinny: The special teams unit in 2016 was as good as it had ever been in 2016 with Elliott Fry becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer and Sean Kelly averaging 42.5 yards per punt with 13 going at least 50 yards.

Drew Williams was also as solid as they come at long snapper. It was one of the most-experienced units on last year’s team, and the Gamecocks will have to replace all three starters heading into the 2017 season.

It’s a young group, but there are talented players on the field. Redshirt sophomore Michael Almond saw some time at punter last season and Alex Woznick, who redshirted last season could also see time.

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Player to Watch: Michael Almond, P/K

Almond is the likely starting punter next season, replacing Kelly, the two-year starter at the position after transferring from FAU. Almond started the Birmingham Bowl for an injured Kelly at the end of last season, punting twice with an average of 44 yards per punt and a long of 48.

Newcomer who could make an impact: Alex Woznick, K

Woznick is technically not a newcomer, but he’ll be on the active roster for the first time this fall after redshirting his freshman year. An in-state talent, Woznick played for Eastside High School and was a five-star kicker coming to school. He was a two-sport athlete and is the favorite to take over for Fry as the place kicker this season.

He’ll have big shoes to fill, taking over for the all-time leading scorer Fry, who was 13-for-17 on field goals and was automatic on PATs, going 31-for-31.

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Biggest storyline to watch in 2017: Who takes over at kickoff specialist?

Fry handled all of the kickoff duties last season with 17 touchbacks. It’s a battle likely between Almond and Woznick, who will duke it out for the starting job in fall camp, which starts in late July. Another name to watch is Joseph Charlton, who will battle for the starting punting job. He will compete with the other two for the starting kickoff specialist job.

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The special teams group has always been close-knit and one of the groups with the most experience. They’ll have to replace three starters, which is always hard to do, but should again be a solid position group within the team.