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2008 Gridiron Camp Preview: Special Teams
Aug. 17, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas -- GoFrogs.com continues its preview of the 2008 TCU football team with a look at the special teams. Snapper Clint Gresham (6-3, 225, Jr.) is one of the unsung heroes of the Horned Frogs. A transfer from Oklahoma, Gresham came to TCU as a walk-on. After an impressive 2007 season as the short and long snapper, he was rewarded with a scholarship. With the graduation of three-time All-MWC selection Chris Manfredini, incoming freshman and Burnet, Texas, native Ross Evans (5-8, 173, Fr.) will battle Kevin Sharples (5-9, 170, So.) for the placekicking duties. Evans' 37 career field goals, including a pair of 53-yard efforts as a senior, rank second in Texas high school history. Sharples had a 52-yard field goal for Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, Texas. Drew Combs (6-3, 225, Sr.) was the Frogs' kickoff specialist last season. Evans will challenge him for those duties in 2008. Anson Kelton, from nearby Aledo, will take over as the Frogs' punter. He was a redshirt last season as Derek Wash earned All-MWC accolades. Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (5-10, 185, So.) will take over for the graduated Brian Bonner on punt returns. Bonner's 535 punt return yards last year placed second on TCU's single-season list, behind only Davey O'Brien (549, 1937). In Bonner (2006-07) and Cory Rodgers (2005), TCU has had the first-team All-MWC return specialist all three years it has been in the league. Kerley, a former prep quarterback, will also serve as the Frogs' holder on kicks. Aaron Brown (6-1, 196, Sr.), Jimmy Young (6-1, 200, So.) and Ryan Christian (5-11, 188, Jr.) are among several candidates to handle kickoff returns. Brown averaged 24.6 yards on 14 attempts last season, while Christian had a 23.3 mark on three returns. BY THE NUMBERS:
1 - Number of true freshmen (Jeremy Kerley) to see action on offense and special teams for TCU last season
3 - Consecutive years TCU has had the first-team All-MWC return specialist (Cory Rodgers, 2005; Brian Bonner, 2006-07), representing each season it has been in the league
5.6 - Yards per punt return TCU opponents were held to in 2007
6 - Touchbacks recorded by kickoff specialist Drew Combs last season
83 - Pound differential between last year's TCU punter (Derek Wash, 177) and this season's projected starter (Anson Kelton, 260)
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