Charlotte 49ers rank among college football’s best in these special categories

Hunter Bailey
·5 min read

The Charlotte 49ers have come a long way from the not-so-special teams that cost them repeatedly over the past two seasons.

Coach Will Healy called the 2021 team the best he’s coached at Charlotte, and the increased depth is being highlighted on special teams.

“We’ve got to make big strides on special teams,” Healy told The Observer ahead of the season. “I think we’re doing it.”

The Charlotte 49ers are a dangerous football team when they execute in all three phases, but seldom have we seen the trio completed for a full 60 minutes. The offense has been dynamic on the arm of Chris Reynolds and a star-studded receiving corps, but the defense has been gashed for career days on multiple occasions.

The special teams have done their job, which is to not lose the 49ers games. Most recently, they’ve even positioned Charlotte to win. In fact, Shadrick Byrd earned Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week honors following the Week 6 victory over Florida International.

Byrd averaged over 59 yards per kick return, flipping the field twice for the 49ers. While Charlotte is yet to score a special teams touchdown this season, there has been clear improvement under first-year special teams coordinator Tyler Hancock.

Hancock is the 49ers’ third special teams coordinator in as many seasons, filling the role following Charles Bankins’ departure to Memphis.

Here is a midseason review of the 49ers’ special teams:

KICKING & PUNTING

Senior kicker Jonathan Cruz hasn’t been called on often this season as the 49ers’ offense has been efficient in the red zone, scoring on 82% of their attempts. Cruz has connected on three of his five attempts, with his longest coming from 42 yards against Florida International.

He had a kick blocked against Middle Tennessee and missed a crucial 29-yard attempt that would have tied the game against Illinois late in the third quarter. Healy has stated that he feels comfortable kicking a field goal as soon as the offense crosses the opposing 35-yard line.

Cruz has connected on every extra point this season, making a school record 61 straight dating back to 2019. He also handles kickoffs, where he’s booted 27 touchbacks and allowed only four returns this season. The 49ers rank 96th in the FBS in kickoff coverage, allowing 23 yards per return.

Punter Bailey Rice joined the team this season following a four-year career in the Australian Football League. Rice averages 41.22 yards per punt, which ranks 69th in the nation. His longest punt of the season was 56 yards against Middle Tennessee.

When Rice booms the ball, the 49ers are wasting no time making the tackle. Charlotte is leading the nation in punt return defense and hasn’t allowed a single yard this season to a punt returner.

Whether it’s the Aussie-style roll-out punt, an improved group of blockers and gunners, or both, the 49ers aren’t giving up field position in the punting game. Healy stated that he would play the best 11 players on their “Pride Unit,” and knowing what Grant DuBose can do catching the ball, he may be equally as good as a gunner.

While ranking in the top of the nation in yards allowed on punt returns is key, that’s not the most important punting stat for the 49ers. Charlotte hasn’t allowed a single blocked punt this season, which shows massive strides from the woes that plagued them since Healy took charge in 2019. Last year against Duke, there were two disastrous special teams flubs.

RETURN GAME

The 49ers have only three punt returns for a total of 15 yards on the season. We’ve seen Geovante Howard, Victor Tucker and Cameron Dollar returning kicks this season, but there has been minimal room to run following the catch.

There have been a couple of questionable return decisions, but no muffed punts to this point. Dollar has the awareness and ball-security skills of a good returner, but expect to see Tucker in that role in late-game situations. Tucker’s explosiveness and quick first step open the door for the big play.

The running back duo of Calvin Camp and Byrd serves as the 49ers’ kick returners, with Byrd ranking 12th in the nation in yards per return at 28.5. As a team, the 49ers rank 21st in the nation and second in C-USA in kick returns with an average of 27.13 yards per return.

Charlotte’s last kick return for a touchdown came in the 2020 season opener as Aaron McAllister went 97 yards for the score against Appalachian State. The 49ers are yet to find the end zone on special teams this season.

GRADING CHARLOTTE’S SPECIAL TEAMS

Special Teams: B+. Charlotte isn’t hurting itself on special teams this season and that alone earns a B. The plus comes from Byrd’s explosiveness and the job that Hancock is doing schematically.

Kicking & Punting: B. With Rice joining the team, Charlotte is ranking atop the nation in punting and hasn’t allowed a single punt to be blocked. Cruz will continue to be a reliable option on field goals.

Return Game: B. There have only been 18 total returns all season for the 49ers, but kick returns have been much improved as of late. Oftentimes, it’s not worth the risk of injury, a fumble or a flag on the kick return, so it’s easy to just let the ball go through the end zone for a touchback. But with Byrd in the return game, it’s been worth the risk.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Threads now lets you control who can quote your posts

    Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced the update this weekend, saying he hopes it will “help keep Threads a more positive place.” Users can choose to turn off quotes entirely or limit them only to people they follow.

  • Erling Haaland shows Man City’s transformation from the recent past

    Man City 5-1 Wolves: Haaland’s four goals demonstrated how City have adapted since the days of the returning David Silva as they held serve in the Premier League title race

  • Berkshire's profit plunges 64% on portfolio holdings as Buffett it sells Apple

    OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway's first quarter profits plummeted along with the paper value of its investments, but the company said Saturday that most of the businesses it owns outright performed well. The company reported reported a $12.7 billion profit, or $8.825 per Class A share, in the quarter. That’s roughly one-third of last year's $35.5 billion, or $24,377 per A share. The figures were heavily influenced by a large drop in the paper value of Berkshire’s investments. Buffett encou

  • Canada Soccer increases membership fees starting in 2025 to help improve revenue

    Financially challenged Canada Soccer took a step toward improving its bottom line Saturday, voting to increase its annual membership fee for players by $4 starting in 2025. Soccer players will pay a $13 fee, up from $9 in what Canada Soccer says is the first membership fee hike since 2017. Canada Soccer also has a new president-elect in Peter Augruso. The president and chair of Ontario Soccer ran unopposed after incumbent Charmaine Crooks announced before the vote that she would not seek re-elec

  • Manchester City vs Wolves LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after Erling Haaland scores four

    Man City 5-1 Wolves: Haaland’s quadruple helped City hold serve in the title race in style

  • Canada advances to world under-18 hockey final with 5-4 semifinal win over Sweden

    ESPOO, Finland — Ryder Ritchie and Taj Iginla both had a goal and an assist as Canada held on to edge Sweden 5-4 in semifinal action Saturday at the world under-18 men's hockey tournament. Canada will face the United States in the final Sunday. The Americans advanced with a 7-2 semifinal win over Slovakia earlier Saturday. Liam Greentree, Gavin McKenna and Henry Mews had the other goals for Canada. Goalie George Carter made 25 saves as Sweden outshot the Canadians 29-23 in the contest. Canada op

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans to stay alive in IPL

    Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept alive their slim playoff hopes in the Indian Premier League with a four-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in a low-scoring thriller on Saturday. Bengaluru pacers came to the party as Gujarat was put into bat and bowled out for 147 runs in 19.3 overs. Bengaluru skipper Faf du Plessis then led the way with 64 off 23 balls, as the hosts finished with 152-6 in only 13.4 overs.

  • He ruined the race: Alonso unhappy as Hamilton escapes penalty in sprint race

    The pair collided at the opening corner of the Miami circuit.

  • Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts aboard new capsule, the latest entry to space travel

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After years of delays and stumbles, Boeing is finally poised to launch astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. It’s the first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board, a pair of NASA pilots who will check out the spacecraft during the test drive and a weeklong stay at the space station. NASA turned to U.S. companies for astronaut rides after the space shuttles were retired. Elon Musk's SpaceX has made nine taxi trips for NASA since 202

  • Three bodies discovered near spot where 2 San Diego, 1 Australian surfer disappeared

    Three bodies discovered near spot where 2 San Diego, 1 Australian surfer disappeared

  • Escaped zebra captured near Seattle after gallivanting around Cascade mountain foothills for days

    A zebra that has been hoofing through the foothills of western Washington for days was recaptured Friday evening, nearly a week after she escaped with three other zebras from a trailer near Seattle. Local residents and animal control officers corralled the zebra named “Shug” in the community of Riverbend, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Seattle, the Regional Animal Services of King County wrote on its website.

  • Rio de Janeiro set for Madonna’s massive Copacabana beach concert that will be her biggest ever

    RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Madonna will give a free concrete on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning its vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor. It comes after Rio de Janeiro spent the last few days readying itself for the historic performance by the “Queen of Pop.” Rio’s City Hall has said some 1.5 million spectators are anticipated, more than 10 times more than Madonna’s record attendance of 130,000 in Paris’ Parc des Sceaux in 1987. Madonna's official website has been hyping the sho

  • Darius Morris Dies: Former Los Angeles Lakers Playoffs Starter Was 33

    Former NBA player Darius Morris, who started a playoff game for the Los Angeles Lakers and played for four other NBA teams, has died at 33. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Morris also played for the University of Michigan. (more)

  • Real Madrid wins the Spanish league after Barcelona loses at Girona

    BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid has won its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after increasing its lead over second-place Girona to an insurmountable 13 points with four games remaining. Madrid reclaimed its domestic crown after beating Cadiz 3-0 earlier Saturday, and Barcelona then lost 4-2 at Girona. Only a victory by Barcelona would have stopped Madrid from celebrating. Madrid also has a chance to add to its unequaled 14 European Cups. Madrid hosts Bayern Munich in the Champions

  • Erling Haaland scores four as Man City take control of the title race once again

    Pep Guardiola’s side moved back within a point of Arsenal with a game in hand.

  • Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms

    HOUSTON (AP) — High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing more than 400 people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water. Others prepared to evacuate their property. A flood watch remained in effect through Sunday afternoon as forecasters predicted additional rainfall Saturday night, bringing another 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) of water to the soaked region and the likelihood of major flo

  • Haaland scores 4 in another win for Man City. Arsenal isn't going away in the title race, though

    Four goals for Erling Haaland. Another win for Manchester City in its bid to capture an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League crown. Arsenal, though, isn't going away in the title race. Not this time. Haaland has now at least a hat trick in six of his 63 matches in England's top flight after converting two penalties, powering in a header and curling home a sublime finish in City's 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton on Saturday. Julian Alvarez added a late fifth, moments after coming on as a s

  • The Safety Reason You Shouldn't Save Store-Bought Sushi For Later

    There are differences between homemade, takeout, and grocery store-bought sushi rolls, and it's important to know how to best preserve each one.

  • Daniel Cormier: There’s no respect for ‘smaller dudes’ Conor McGregor, Max Holloway if it weren’t for Jose Aldo

    Daniel Cormier credits Jose Aldo for giving the lighter weight divisions legitimacy.

  • Can a Nursing Home Take Our Savings? We Have a $500k Roth IRA and a Trust to Protect Us.

    Can a nursing home seize your savings? What if your money is in a trust or a Roth IRA? For married and single retirees alike, these are important questions with nuanced answers. First for the good news: A nursing home cannot simply take your retirement accounts or savings. Short of legal action due to an […] The post Can a Nursing Home Take Our Assets? We Have a $500k IRA and a Trust to Protect Us appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.