Intrigue Surrounds the Special Teams
Aug 06, 2025 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State was in a pickle. True freshman Cub Patton, who arrived in January to compete with junior Leyton Simmering for a "true competition" at place kicker, suffered an injury that will keep him off the field for an extended period. Simmering hasn't attempted a field goal in a game but showed promise.
The Wildcats sorely needed another place kicker on their roster.
That's when K-State special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor sprang into action. He kept a list of names on the "backburner" just in case. He contacted a young man named Luis Rodriguez, a native of Sylmar, California, who enjoyed a consistent season as a freshman at College of the Canyons.
Now Rodriguez, who committed to K-State on June 30, is bringing his consistency to K-State in training camp.
"The fact that Luis has kicked in junior college, he's a little more mature than a freshman coming in, and with Leyton being there as somebody who's been here — he's working through some minor injuries right now — it was really, really cool to have Luis available," Kaczor said. "I like his technique. He has a very repeatable, smooth technique. Statistically, he was good, but the repeatable technique and the way he strikes the ball and the way he is consistent and his personality with the coaching staff at College of the Canyons was great."
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Rodriguez was the best kicker in California Community Colleges. He went 21-of-25 on field-goal attempts, 31-of-34 on extra-point attempts, and his 54-yard field goal against Bakersfield was the longest in the state.
"Put it this way," Kaczor said. "In games last year he kicked a handful of kicks over 50 that were good in big games."
Kaczor said that Simmering is dealing with a "minor" injury that is preventing him from practicing. Kaczor has sophomore Simon McClannan, the team's primary punter who can also kick, and sophomore Teagan Cobb, who can either punt or kick as well.
"Simon and Teagan, we're trying to get them to be probably backups, but right now Luis is our most consistent performer in terms of availability," Kaczor said. "He's kicking every day we kick. He's been out there every time. Some of them can't go, and he's doing really well with those reps. He can have 40 kicks, and the other guys have 10, and that's pretty significant. He's been very consistent."
If Rodriguez's consistency continues, he could make his FBS debut when No. 20 K-State faces No. 21 Iowa State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on August 23 in Dublin, Ireland.
Intrigue surrounds the rest of the special teams as well.
McClannan served as primary punter and averaged 42.34 yards on 47 punts last season, which ranked third in the Big 12 in average among qualified punters. McClannan's punting average ranked fifth in K-State history among freshmen (minimum 25 attempts). His strongest performance came in the final game of the season as he had a career-best 46.5-yard average in the Rate Bowl, which was the fourth-highest average in K-State bowl history.
"Simon really got better at doing the basics," Kaczor said. "I know it may sound very simple, but the way you catch a snap, how you fit your hands on the ball to mold it and present it to punt it, he got so much better and confident. The chemistry of holding for the kickers and punting really improved. Teagan Cobb behind him has really made strides. He was a very talented track athlete in high school – one of the best long jumpers in the state – so he has really good explosion, but we're working with him technically to harness that and utilize it. He's ascending. Both punters are capable of kicking off and kicking field goals. That'd be their 1B and 1C skillset."
As for long snapper? Those duties will rest on senior Mason Olguin or sophomore Andrew Johnson.
"Mason, last year's starting long snapper, is back," Kaczor said. "His game experience, that counts. Andrew Johnson is behind him. He's talented, but in order for him to get reps or supplant somebody who's played a whole season of game reps, you have to be significantly better. We have two very capable guys there. We're working to get any little bumps in the road. We had a couple bumps in the road last year that we cannot allow to affect future performances."
One of the most exciting segments of special teams featured some special efforts in 2024, as running back Dylan Edwards was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection as a kickoff returner and punt returner. Among his exploits? He earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors after returning a punt 71 yards for a touchdown against Arizona. He totaled 140 punt-return yards with a touchdown on 10 attempts and 298 kickoff-return yards on 15 attempts to finish among the leaders nationally in combined kick return yards.
But it was the performance of running back DeVon Rice, a true freshman last season, that caused Kaczor to pause. In a game at Colorado, Rice had three returns for 70 yards (23.3-yard average), but it was his electrifying 36-yard return that most stood out — and it stood out for multiple reasons: It gave Rice confidence.
"If I could've had a GoPro camera on my head and showed you the look on his face before he went out there for that first one, that look is gone now," Kaczor said. "When a kid gets confidence, it's kind of revealing to the guys on the team. Everyone feels confidence and growth. That's all-encompassing in having a more confident player who understands his assignments and role more, so they play faster."
The list of potential candidates to be featured in the return game includes redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryce Noernberg, junior wide receiver Sterling Lockett, true freshman running back Monterrio Elston Jr., true freshman Adonis Moise, and Rice and Edwards.
"Sterling Lockett you've seen in game, Dylan will certainly be used, and how much we'll see," Kaczor said. "Monterrio Elston Jr. is capable. DeVon Rice you've seen in game. Noernberg and Sterling have taken steps, and they're just more comfortable and mature out there, and all those guys have some explosiveness. Adonis Moise and Monterrio Elston Jr. are two young guys who have explosiveness, and you'll see those guys probably show up on special teams and in other roles as the year goes on."
Another year on the gridiron officially begins in a matter of weeks for K-State, which boasts a special teams tale that could prove significant this fall.
In need of a kicker, Kaczor this summer decided on a young man named Luis Rodriguez.
In training camp, he's been the most consistent and most available kicker.
On the football field this fall, he could prove to be a blessing for the Wildcats.
Kansas State was in a pickle. True freshman Cub Patton, who arrived in January to compete with junior Leyton Simmering for a "true competition" at place kicker, suffered an injury that will keep him off the field for an extended period. Simmering hasn't attempted a field goal in a game but showed promise.
The Wildcats sorely needed another place kicker on their roster.
That's when K-State special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor sprang into action. He kept a list of names on the "backburner" just in case. He contacted a young man named Luis Rodriguez, a native of Sylmar, California, who enjoyed a consistent season as a freshman at College of the Canyons.
Now Rodriguez, who committed to K-State on June 30, is bringing his consistency to K-State in training camp.
"The fact that Luis has kicked in junior college, he's a little more mature than a freshman coming in, and with Leyton being there as somebody who's been here — he's working through some minor injuries right now — it was really, really cool to have Luis available," Kaczor said. "I like his technique. He has a very repeatable, smooth technique. Statistically, he was good, but the repeatable technique and the way he strikes the ball and the way he is consistent and his personality with the coaching staff at College of the Canyons was great."
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Rodriguez was the best kicker in California Community Colleges. He went 21-of-25 on field-goal attempts, 31-of-34 on extra-point attempts, and his 54-yard field goal against Bakersfield was the longest in the state.
"Put it this way," Kaczor said. "In games last year he kicked a handful of kicks over 50 that were good in big games."
Kaczor said that Simmering is dealing with a "minor" injury that is preventing him from practicing. Kaczor has sophomore Simon McClannan, the team's primary punter who can also kick, and sophomore Teagan Cobb, who can either punt or kick as well.
"Simon and Teagan, we're trying to get them to be probably backups, but right now Luis is our most consistent performer in terms of availability," Kaczor said. "He's kicking every day we kick. He's been out there every time. Some of them can't go, and he's doing really well with those reps. He can have 40 kicks, and the other guys have 10, and that's pretty significant. He's been very consistent."
If Rodriguez's consistency continues, he could make his FBS debut when No. 20 K-State faces No. 21 Iowa State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on August 23 in Dublin, Ireland.
Intrigue surrounds the rest of the special teams as well.
McClannan served as primary punter and averaged 42.34 yards on 47 punts last season, which ranked third in the Big 12 in average among qualified punters. McClannan's punting average ranked fifth in K-State history among freshmen (minimum 25 attempts). His strongest performance came in the final game of the season as he had a career-best 46.5-yard average in the Rate Bowl, which was the fourth-highest average in K-State bowl history.
"Simon really got better at doing the basics," Kaczor said. "I know it may sound very simple, but the way you catch a snap, how you fit your hands on the ball to mold it and present it to punt it, he got so much better and confident. The chemistry of holding for the kickers and punting really improved. Teagan Cobb behind him has really made strides. He was a very talented track athlete in high school – one of the best long jumpers in the state – so he has really good explosion, but we're working with him technically to harness that and utilize it. He's ascending. Both punters are capable of kicking off and kicking field goals. That'd be their 1B and 1C skillset."
As for long snapper? Those duties will rest on senior Mason Olguin or sophomore Andrew Johnson.
"Mason, last year's starting long snapper, is back," Kaczor said. "His game experience, that counts. Andrew Johnson is behind him. He's talented, but in order for him to get reps or supplant somebody who's played a whole season of game reps, you have to be significantly better. We have two very capable guys there. We're working to get any little bumps in the road. We had a couple bumps in the road last year that we cannot allow to affect future performances."
One of the most exciting segments of special teams featured some special efforts in 2024, as running back Dylan Edwards was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection as a kickoff returner and punt returner. Among his exploits? He earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors after returning a punt 71 yards for a touchdown against Arizona. He totaled 140 punt-return yards with a touchdown on 10 attempts and 298 kickoff-return yards on 15 attempts to finish among the leaders nationally in combined kick return yards.
But it was the performance of running back DeVon Rice, a true freshman last season, that caused Kaczor to pause. In a game at Colorado, Rice had three returns for 70 yards (23.3-yard average), but it was his electrifying 36-yard return that most stood out — and it stood out for multiple reasons: It gave Rice confidence.
"If I could've had a GoPro camera on my head and showed you the look on his face before he went out there for that first one, that look is gone now," Kaczor said. "When a kid gets confidence, it's kind of revealing to the guys on the team. Everyone feels confidence and growth. That's all-encompassing in having a more confident player who understands his assignments and role more, so they play faster."
The list of potential candidates to be featured in the return game includes redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryce Noernberg, junior wide receiver Sterling Lockett, true freshman running back Monterrio Elston Jr., true freshman Adonis Moise, and Rice and Edwards.
"Sterling Lockett you've seen in game, Dylan will certainly be used, and how much we'll see," Kaczor said. "Monterrio Elston Jr. is capable. DeVon Rice you've seen in game. Noernberg and Sterling have taken steps, and they're just more comfortable and mature out there, and all those guys have some explosiveness. Adonis Moise and Monterrio Elston Jr. are two young guys who have explosiveness, and you'll see those guys probably show up on special teams and in other roles as the year goes on."
Another year on the gridiron officially begins in a matter of weeks for K-State, which boasts a special teams tale that could prove significant this fall.
In need of a kicker, Kaczor this summer decided on a young man named Luis Rodriguez.
In training camp, he's been the most consistent and most available kicker.
On the football field this fall, he could prove to be a blessing for the Wildcats.
Players Mentioned
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