FCS 2022: Top Returning Special Teams Statistical Leaders

With players taking advantage of an extra year of NCAA eligibility, the 2021 season was full of experienced players in FCS college football.

However, even with key losses, that doesn’t mean the Division I subdivision will lack standout players in 2022 – the numbers don’t lie.

Following are some of this year’s key returning special teams leaders from the 2021 FCS season and career-wise while playing in the subdivision:

Kicking

Field Goals Made – 2021: Jose Pizano, Missouri State, and Kyle Sentkowski, Sacramento State, 21 each; Career: Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa, 53

Field Goals Made Per Game – 2021 (minimum played in three-quarters of team’s games): Jose Pizano, Missouri State, and Kyle Sentkowski, Sacramento State, 1.75 each (21/12); Career (15 games with 1+ per game): Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa, 1.56 (53/34)

Field Goal Percentage – 2021 (10+ attempts): Brian Bruzdewicz (10 of 10), Duquesne, and Richard McCollum (12 of 12), Western Carolina, 100.0 each; Career (50+ attempts): Matthew Cook (53 of 66), Northern Iowa, 80.3

In addition to having 80.3 percent accuracy on career field goal attempts, Northern Iowa’s Matthew Cook enters the 2022 season a perfect 79 of 79 on PAT attempts. (UNI Athletics)

Field Goal Long – 2021: Aaron Baum, Murray State, 58; Career: Aaron Baum, Murray State, 58

Extra Points Made – 2021: Mateo Rengifo, Southeastern Louisiana, 72; Career: Nathan Robertson, Kennesaw State, 146

Kicking Points – 2021: Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin, and Jose Pizano, Missouri State, 109 each; Career: Skyler Davis, Elon, 255

Punting

Punts – 2021: Garrett Urban, Grambling State, 79; Career: Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State, 183

Punting Yards – 2021: Dyson Roberts, South Carolina State, 3,132; Career: Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State, 7,388

Punting Average – 2021 (minimum 3.6 punts per team’s games): Grant Burkett, Missouri State, 46.2 (2,358/51); Career (minimum 140 punts): Max Quick, Stephen F. Austin, 42.5 (6,764/159)

Stephen F. Austin’s Max Quick averaged a career-high 45.3 yards per punt in 2021 while lifting his career average to 42.5 on 159 punts, beginning in the 2019 season. (SFA Athletics)

Punting Long – 2021: Devin Bale, Northern Colorado, 84; Career: Devin Bale, Northern Colorado, 84

Returns

Kickoff Return Average – 2021: (1.2 returns per team’s games and played in three-quarters of team’s games): Isaiah Boulden, Jackson State, 36.9 (591/16); Career (minimum 24 returns): Lan Larison, UC Davis, 30.5 (733/24)

Kickoff Return Touchdowns – 2021: Isaiah Boulden, Jackson State, and Malik Flowers, Montana, 2 each; Career: Malik Flowers, Montana, 5

With five career kickoff returns for touchdowns, Montana’s Malik Flowers enters the 2022 season two shy of former Weber State returner Rashid Shaheed’s FCS-record seven from 2017-21. (Montana Athletics)

Punt Return Average – 2021 (1.2 returns per team’s games and played in three-quarters of team’s games): Jah’Marae Sheread, Florida A&M, 19.9 (358/19.9); Career (minimum 24 returns): Jayden Price, North Dakota State, 14.6 (453/31)

Punt Return Touchdowns – 2021: Robert McMinn, Alabama State, and Christian Ruffin, Norfolk State, 2 each; Career: Spencer Gilliam, Holy Cross, Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin, Devron Harper, Gardner-Webb/Mercer, Robert McMinn, Alabama State, Jayden Price, North Dakota State, and Christian Ruffin, Norfolk State, 2 each

Total Return Yards – 2021: D’Ago Hunter, Towson, 874; Career: Malik Flowers, Montana, 2,044

Blocks

Blocked Kicks – 2021: Kevin DeShields, Delaware State, and Jacob Roberts, North Carolina A&T, 4 each; Career: N/A

Note: Statistics by Stats Perform and NCAA.org.