Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
#CuseCamp17 Position Preview: Specialists
8/20/2017 8:00:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – New special teams coordinator Justin Lustig inherited a veteran group of specialists when he came on board in March. Placekicker Cole Murphy is in his fourth season. Long snapper Matt Keller is in his third, and punter Sterling Hofrichter is in his second.
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Murphy ranks fifth among active ACC kickers in scoring with 201 points and lists among the top 10 in SU history in most kicking categories. He also has three career field goals of 50+ yards to his credit.
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Keller contributed to an Orange punting operation that was fifth in the ACC in 2016 in net average (38.8) and third in total punting yardage (3,380).
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The beneficiary of Keller's pinpoint snaps is Hofrichter, who earned Freshman All-America and All-ACC honors a year ago. Hofrichter tied for second among freshmen nationally in punting average (42.7) and matched Virginia's Nicholas Conte for the conference lead with 23 punts of 50+ yards. In addition to his punting responsibilities, Hofrichter has worked in with Murphy on placement kicks during preseason camp.
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Other specialists on the roster include: kickers Jeffrey Chan, Andre Szmyt, Alex Grossman and Emerson Womble, punter/kicker Nolan Cooney and reserve long snapper Nathan Hines. Chan and Szmyt are new additions, joining the Orange at the start of camp.
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Sophomore Sean Riley is poised to reprise his role as SU's primary kick returner. Riley led the nation in kickoff return yardage  (1,095) and ranked second in the FBS in combined kick return yards (1,125) last season. Riley is also in line to possibly replace ACC all-time leading punt returner Brisly Estime. Riley filled that role in a limited capacity as a freshman, running back two punts for a total of 30 yards.
Freshman Nykeim Johnson is a burner out of Friends Academy in Washington, D.C. He could factor in the return game, as well.Â
Syracuse kicks off the 2017 campaign against Central Connecticut State on Friday, Sept. 1 in the Carrier Dome. Season tickets, partial plans and group tickets are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125.
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Single-game tickets for all home games are also on sale. Tickets start at $25 for non-conference games against Central Connecticut State, Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan, $30 for ACC matchups with Wake Forest and Boston College, $35 for the Oct. 7 Pittsburgh game on Orange Central Weekend, and $45 for the Clemson game on Oct. 13.  Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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Murphy ranks fifth among active ACC kickers in scoring with 201 points and lists among the top 10 in SU history in most kicking categories. He also has three career field goals of 50+ yards to his credit.
  Â
Keller contributed to an Orange punting operation that was fifth in the ACC in 2016 in net average (38.8) and third in total punting yardage (3,380).
  Â
The beneficiary of Keller's pinpoint snaps is Hofrichter, who earned Freshman All-America and All-ACC honors a year ago. Hofrichter tied for second among freshmen nationally in punting average (42.7) and matched Virginia's Nicholas Conte for the conference lead with 23 punts of 50+ yards. In addition to his punting responsibilities, Hofrichter has worked in with Murphy on placement kicks during preseason camp.
  Â
Other specialists on the roster include: kickers Jeffrey Chan, Andre Szmyt, Alex Grossman and Emerson Womble, punter/kicker Nolan Cooney and reserve long snapper Nathan Hines. Chan and Szmyt are new additions, joining the Orange at the start of camp.
  Â
Sophomore Sean Riley is poised to reprise his role as SU's primary kick returner. Riley led the nation in kickoff return yardage  (1,095) and ranked second in the FBS in combined kick return yards (1,125) last season. Riley is also in line to possibly replace ACC all-time leading punt returner Brisly Estime. Riley filled that role in a limited capacity as a freshman, running back two punts for a total of 30 yards.
Freshman Nykeim Johnson is a burner out of Friends Academy in Washington, D.C. He could factor in the return game, as well.Â
Syracuse kicks off the 2017 campaign against Central Connecticut State on Friday, Sept. 1 in the Carrier Dome. Season tickets, partial plans and group tickets are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125.
Â
Single-game tickets for all home games are also on sale. Tickets start at $25 for non-conference games against Central Connecticut State, Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan, $30 for ACC matchups with Wake Forest and Boston College, $35 for the Oct. 7 Pittsburgh game on Orange Central Weekend, and $45 for the Clemson game on Oct. 13.  Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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