WSU spring football: Cougars find punting alternatives

PULLMAN – While there are no punters listed on the Washington State football spring roster, the Cougars must have somebody do it.

The group of specialists that special teams coach Eric Mele cobbled together for the sake of getting through drills – and compete to start next season – includes the team’s kicker, a linebacker and a Jugs machine.

So far, the kicker is winning.

Punter wasn’t expected to be a position of need for the Cougars for a few years after freshman Jordan Dascalo attempted all 49 punts for WSU last season. Dascalo could have improved his placement and at times his lack of hang-time left something to be desired – and probably led to an opposing touchdown or two – but his 41.6 yards-per-punt average was solid and there was obviously a lot with which to work.

The Cougars haven’t had a punter that inspired confidence since cult hero Reid Forrest averaged 45.4 yards per punt in 2010. His freshman numbers were a full yard-per-punt lower than Dascalo’s.

But Dascalo departed the team sometime between the Apple Cup and the start of spring football, leaving WSU’s special teams in a precarious position.

“We had an idea that it might pan out like this,” Mele said. “I tried to break practices up so that we only needed a punter some days. If it’s more of a coverage day, we’ll use the machine.”

That machine has made a move up the depth chart. Linebacker Frankie Luvu was helping out by giving the Cougars another leg in the first few practices, but he’s been limited lately and spent the last few weeks wearing a yellow no-contact jersey.

It’s entirely possible that next year’s punter isn’t on the team yet. The Cougars recruited Matt Abramo in this year’s signing class and he is expected to compete for all three duties: kickoffs, punts and field goals.

Mike Leach is reticent to give a scholarship to a high school kicker unless he’s special.

“Other than that, you have them fight it out and see who comes out on top,” Leach said.

So the Cougars must think pretty highly of Abramo.

WSU is also expected to bring in walk-on punters for fall camp, one or two of whom is likely to push for at least a spot on the travel roster.

Still, the Cougars have one option on the roster in kicker Erik Powell, who did all the punting during Thursday’s practice. Cornerback Marcellus Pippins, an apparent starter at that position as well, did all the receiving.

Powell began last season as WSU’s starting kicker but struggled, connection on just 2 of 5 attempts with a long of 25. Quentin Breshears took over after the first three games.

Powell hasn’t punted since high school and is still picking up the nuances of what is the most complicated type of kick.

But he’s done well enough that Mele said he’d be confident using him for punts and kickoffs in the fall.

“It takes a special guy, but I think he’s got the raw talent to do that,” Mele said. “He’s an athletic kid and he’s got the leg talent to do it.”

Notes

The Cougars will hold their first spring scrimmage Saturday at the conclusion of practice, which begins at 10:15 a.m. The scrimmage is expected to start around 11 a.m. and will consist of approximately 70 plays. … Leach said that the first-team offense will go against the first-team defense, and so on, with quarterbacks Luke Falk and Peyton Bender getting opportunities to face the first and second units.