The Terps will have a decision to make at punter and punt returner this year.
In the first edition of our Maryland football position previews, we spotlight the special teams unit. The Terps showcased a relatively solid performance in this area during the 2023 campaign, led by now-redshirt junior kicker Jack Howes and then-senior punter Colton Spangler.
Howes took over kicking duties from Chad Ryland, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, last year. Howes had a mostly successful season, making 68.4% of his field goal attempts, including 5-of-9 from 40 to 49 yards out, with his longest being 49 yards. He was 0 for 1 from beyond 50 yards.
Head coach Mike Locksley has a hole to replace at punter, though. Spangler started in each of the last three seasons, and impressed last year, averaging 42.2 yards per punt, with half of his punts landing inside the 20.
Kicker depth
Punter depth
Note: Asterisk denotes expected starter.
Howes remains Maryland’s top kicker
Howes is expected to start again after nailing 13-of-19 field goal attempts last year. The only other kicker to attempt a field goal in 2023 was then-senior Evan Johnson, who made his lone attempt from 24 yards out, but he has since graduated.
Howes also handled 74 kickoffs for the Terps in 2023, averaging 62.1 yards with 43 touchbacks. Johnson took just one kickoff, resulting in a 65-yard touchback. Howes is expected to continue these duties in 2024.
Redshirt sophomore Gavin Marshall and redshirt freshman Ryan Capriotti are also competing for the kicker position. Marshall joined the Terps after two seasons at Oklahoma, where he made both of his PAT attempts and handled three kickoffs in 2023. Capriotti was a walk-on specialist at East Carolina in 2023 but did not participate in any game action.
Changes in the punting and return units
This is where things could get interesting for Locksley. Redshirt junior Brenden Segovia was the only other player besides Spangler to punt for the Terps last year. Segovia averaged 38.4 yards per punt on eight punts, five of which landed inside the 20.
While Segovia is the most familiar with the program, redshirt sophomore Bryce McFerson will likely start. McFerson was Notre Dame’s primary punter last season, averaging 45.1 yards per punt on 38 punts, 13 of which exceeded Segovia’s longest of 50 yards. McFerson was also ranked as 247Sports’ top punter coming out of high school.
Philip Noyes, a true freshman, is not expected to see playing time given his position on the depth chart. And, although listed as a kicker/punter, Howes has never punted in college and isn’t expected to begin this season.
The return game could present another tough decision for Locksley. Last year, wide receiver Jeshaun Jones and defensive back Tarheeb Still handled punts, but both are no longer with the team.
Sophomore receiver Braeden Wisloski, who led Maryland with 13 kickoff returns and averaged 19.3 yards per return last year, might fill this void. He finished the season tied 19th nationally in kickoff return average and was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 18 after a 98-yard touchdown return against Virginia. Although Wisloski didn’t return any punts in 2023, he may be called upon this season.
Other punt return contenders include junior wide receiver Octavian Smith Jr., who returned three kicks for an average of 18.3 yards last year, and freshman wide receiver Emerson Smith, who returned kicks in high school.
Locksley may choose to deploy an entirely new set of players for punt returns, though, potentially drawing from wide receivers or defensive backs.