Eagle Football Position Previews: Specialists

*The fifth installment of a series highlighting position groups on the 2023 Morehead State football team. Next up, the specialists.

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Often overlooked as the third phase of the game, special teams are extremely important in the game of football due to their ability to sway momentum and potentially the outcome of a game one way or another. 

Special teams were a strong suit for the Morehead State football team in 2022, finishing third in FCS in blocked kicks and tied for first in FCS in blocked punts. New special teams coordinator Ryan Watts comes into his first season in that role in 2023, and is looking to keep it that way this season.  

"The team as a whole is fully bought into special teams, and as the coordinator I constantly have guys coming to me trying to get on each unit. That energy is important and will make us good on special teams."

Morehead State returns its three main specialists from 2022 this year, as punter Kip Warren, kicker Nathan Hazlett, and long snapper Brady McKnight are back for another season in the blue and gold.  

Warren had a fine first year as an Eagle, registering an average of 38 yards per punt, including three 50+ yarders (long of 55 yards) and 18 punts downed inside the 20.  

Hazlett was one of the most accurate kickers in the PFL in 2022 despite battling injury, and was named to the Fred Mitchell Award watch list for the second straight season. As the placekicker, Hazlett went 24-24 on PAT attempts, making 11 field goals with a season-long 44 yarder vs. Dayton. On kickoffs, Hazlett averaged 58.9 yards with eight touchbacks.  

Two-time All-PFL and former All-American long snapper Brady McKnight also returns for Morehead State. The Virginia native was named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-PFL team heading into 2023.  

Sox Lee, Ashton Adams & Braeden Haynes, a trio of kickers, also return for Morehead State alongside newcomer Thomas Schwartz V.  

"For the specialist group, we have very deep groups in terms of kickers, punters, and snappers. There has been a lot of competition there and I'm excited to see where that ends up."