*Second in a series on the 2022 Morehead State football team, highlighting the various position groups.

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Special teams is sometimes overlooked as the third phase in football, but not to special teams coordinator Miles Fishback and the Morehead State football team.

"Special teams is a third of the game, big plays don't happen only on offense and defense," said Fishback, who is entering his first year at Morehead State.

One of the biggest challenges he faces is replacing former Eagle record-setting specialist Andrew Foster, who was named All-PFL at both kicker and punter in 2021. When talking about replacing Foster, Fishback noted that there won't be an ironman in the kicking game in 2022.

"We will have a separate kicker and punter who are both very capable. I've been really happy with the leadership among our specialists so far during camp."

One of those specialists is a member of the preseason All-PFL team -- returning sophomore long snapper Brady McKnight, who garnered two All-America nods in addition to a First Team All-PFL award in 2021. He will be snapping to two familiar and one new face this season, as sophomore kickers Braeden Haynes and Daniel Cristiani both return alongside redshirt freshman Kip Warren, who joins the Morehead State football team after a season at Louisiana Monroe.

The final phase of special teams – the return game – poses to be a returner-by-committee group, at least as of now

"We have a lot of very capable guys who can make big plays in that aspect, but I wouldn't say anyone has emerged as the top guy at the moment," said Fishback. "It really comes down to knowing where our returns are attacking, the blocking schemes in front of them and how they can make big plays off of those blocks.

"My goal is to make special teams exciting and getting our players to play hard on those units. I told the freshman from day one that if they wanted to make an immediate impact on this team and make the bus that special teams are a great way to do that," said Fishback. "But it isn't just the young guys; Everyone on our roster is excited about special teams and know that they can impact a game in a big way."

Morehead State opens its season on Aug. 27, in a Week 0 game at Mercer.