The 2017 UCLA Football team will look to rebuild on the kick returning side with the loss of Ishmael Adams. Meanwhile, UCLA hopes that JJ Molson can shake off a disappointing freshman season and become a reliable offensive weapon.
Last year, the UCLA Football team’s kickers, well…struggled. Led by place kicker JJ Molson and punter Austin Kent, both freshman, UCLA ranked last in the PAC-12 in field goal percentage and 10th in net yards per punt.
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JJ Molson came in last year as a highly touted kicker but struggled to gain any consistency throughout the season.
Three-star recruit Austin Kent came in and started punting right away for the Bruins last year. But after not impressing Mora, he was replaced at the end of the year.
Mora experimented with a few different kickers last season but expect both Molson and Kent to get the majority of snaps to start the year. UCLA will have a few kickers to choose from as the season get started so let’s look at who we may see on the field this year.
Kickers
1. JJ Molson, PK, So.
Molson came to UCLA last season ranked as the #2 kicker in North America. Unfortunately, his freshman season was not as successful as hoped. His 60.0 (12/20) field goal percentage ranked 10th among PAC-12 kickers.
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His best game of the season was the 2016 opener at Texas A&M where Molson went 3 for 4 on field goals with a long of 38 yards. On a positive note, Molson could be counted on to hit extra points going a perfect 27/27.
Molson will need to improve his accuracy this year to give Mora the confidence to rely on him. More than a few times last year Mora decided to go for it on fourth down around the 35 yard line instead of attempting a field goal. The risk of going for it on fourth instead of taking three points could end up being the difference between winning or losing.
2. Andrew Strauch, K, So.
Strauch was called on to kick nine extra points last year, connecting on all nine. He was also 1/2 on field goals with his lone make, a 39-yarder, against Utah.
The San Francisco native will probably start the season as Molson’s back up but should expect to see some action this year, especially if Molson struggles.
3. Crawford Pierson, K, R-Fr.
As a redshirt last year, Pierson was limited to just kicking during practice. Unless the Bruins’ two other kickers go down with injuries or have terrible slumps, Pierson probably won’t see any action this year.
Punter
1. Austin Kent, P, So.
Last year as a freshman, Kent took a majority of the punts. On 44 punts, Kent averaged 38.3 yards per attempt. He has a strong leg as demonstrated with a long punt of 61 yards. He was also a useful weapon last year pinning down opponents with 12 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Kent should start the season getting a majority of the punts but needs to increase his average to over 40 yards. If not, Mora may need to look somewhere else.
2. Stephen Flintoft, P, R-Jr.
Last year Flintoft didn’t see any action until the Bruins’ eighth game against Utah. After that he punted in every game becoming the Bruins’ sole punter in the last two games against USC and Cal.
While Flintoft had fewer punt attempts (23) than Kent, his yards per punt was a bit better at 40.3. He also landed eight of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
If Kent struggles in the beginning of the season or he had few more bad punts to drive Mora crazy, Flintoft has the ability to step in and take over the punting duties full time.
Kick/Punt Returner
Last season Coach Mora used nine different Bruins to return kickoffs and punts. Ishmael Adams was by far the most successful. On 32 kick returns, Adams averaged 22.9 yards. He also returned 16 punts averaging 3.8 per attempt.
With Adams getting the majority of the returns, it gave little chance for others to gain any experience. Let’s take a look at a few potential suitors to return kickoffs and punts for the Bruins this year.
1. Adarius Pickett, DB, Jr.
While improving dramatically on defense from his freshman year, Pickett also had a few opportunities to show off his skills returning punts. He was second on the team with eight returns for 81 yards. His best game was against Arizona where he returned three punts for 46 yards.
Using his 4.6 speed, Pickett should be able to outrun a few would be tacklers if he is able to get through the first wave of attacks. Pickett may be Mora’s first choice simply because he is starting the season as UCLA’s leading return man.
After Pickett, the choices for experienced returners get very thin. In fact, no returning Bruin besides Caleb Wilson (3) had no more than one return last year.
2. Mossi Johnson, DB, Sr.
After making the switch to defensive back for the 2017 season, Johnson may still have the desire to use his offensive skills with the ball.
In his career at UCLA, Johnson has returned just nine kickoffs and one punt. In high school as one of the best athletes on his team, Johnson returned both kickoffs and punts, averaging 17.9 yards and 23.1 yards, respectively. Rated by ESPN.com as the #51 athlete in California coming out of Crenshaw HS (CA), Johnson still has the ability to become an elusive returner if given the opportunity.
3. Octavius Spencer, DB, Jr.
Spencer has played sparingly in his first two years at UCLA, appearing in seven games last year. During his sophomore campaign, Spencer recorded 11 total tackles.
He has only returned one punt in his Bruins’ career so experience is something not on his side. But a lack of experience will be the theme for UCLA’s kick return squad to start the season. Spencer, like many Division 1 players, returned punts while in high school. At Monrovia HS (CA), the former three-star recruit was also able to show off his 4.56 speed on the track team.
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At 5’11’’ 185 lbs., Spencer isn’t the biggest guy. But with his speed, strength, and (albeit limited) game experience, Spencer could be a guy Mora gives an opportunity to return both punts and kickoffs.