Scouting WVU: Special Teams

Tavon Austin is one of the most dangerous return men in the Big East.

Special teams will be a key factor in this game. With the Bulls offense struggling at times to get anything going down the field, field position becomes a huge factor in the game as well as the return game. Let's see who the Mountaineers bring to the field in their special teams unit.

Kickers

Junior Tyler Bitancurt (6-1 198-pounds) is the starting kicker for WVU. He is 13 of 18 on field goal attempts this season, hitting a long of 45 yards on the season. Punter Corey Smith (5-11 214-pounds) is the reserve kicker.

Smith is the starting punter, punting the ball 17 times and averaging 43.4 yards a kick, landing 3 inside the 20 and hitting a long of 62 yards. He is also the start kick-off specialist. He has kicked off 62 times, averaging 62.5 yards a kick and has landed 4 for touchbacks so it will be key for Lamar to get solid returns in the game. Smith has been splitting time with freshman Michael Molinari (6-2 190-pounds) who has punted 30 times this season, but averaging just 37.2 yards a kick, including 11 inside the 20 of the opponent and hitting a long of 58 yards.

Returners

Junior Tavon Austin (5-9 173-pounds) is the leading punt return man, but was shaky fielding punts in the last game vs. Pitt. He has returned 19 punts for 268 yards this season (14.1 yards a return). Sophomore Broderick Jenkins (5-10 182-pounds) has returned 2 for 12 yards. USF is one of the best in the nation in covering up punts and not allowing returns, so this will be a key battle to watch (best unit, even if JBK can't punt).

Austin is also the key kick return man, returning 28 for 680 yards on the season (24.3 yards a return) and has one touchdown on the season. Stedman Bailey (5-10 195-pounds) has 4 returns for 67 yards. Senior Brad Starks (6-3 193-pounds) has returned 9 for 223 yards (24.8 yards a return). Special teams will be huge in this game especially with the speed of the WVU returners.