CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah's special teams unit enters the 2025 season with a mix of veterans and rising young talent, with reliable specialists who give the Thunderbirds stability in every phase.
Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said
"Special teams are a huge part of winning football games, and I really like the group we have this year. Danny King has worked hard and earned the opportunity to step into that top kicking role, and we feel confident in the depth and competition behind him. Our long snappers are steady, our punters give us consistency, and we've got dangerous athletes in the return game who can change momentum in a hurry. This is a unit that can help us win field position and put points on the board."
Kickers & Punters
The Thunderbirds will look to Daniel King to lead the kicking unit this season. The redshirt senior brings experience and consistency, having handled kickoff duties in eight games last fall with 26 touchbacks on 40 attempts. King's steady improvement throughout his career and strong offseason work make him the frontrunner for field goals and PATs in 2025. King will also take on the primary punting duties for Southern Utah.
To add depth, the T-Birds have Jayden Rogers, who proved himself in 2024 by connecting on 9-of-10 field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder against North Alabama, SUU's longest made kick since 2007. Rogers also drilled the game-winner against Utah Tech and earned Phil Steele Preseason First Team All-UAC honors entering this season. His presence gives the T-Birds one of the deepest kicking rooms in the conference.
Additional depth comes from Parker Kucifer (Cedar City, Utah), a local standout and former First Team All-Region performer, and Santiago Amezcua (Beaver, Utah), a decorated prep kicker and multi-sport athlete, who is new to the team this fall.
Alyas Vigil, a veteran from Contra Costa College whose leg strength and directional kicking provide a reliable weapon for field position, is also battling to earn punting reps this season.
Long Snappers
SUU's snapping unit is anchored by Gavin Lipkin, one of the top specialists in the UAC. Lipkin enters 2025 as a Phil Steele Preseason First Team All-UAC selection after starting all 12 games last season. He not only delivers clean snaps but also contributes in coverage, recording five tackles a year ago. Kannon Matthews and Bryson Elliot will add depth to the long snapping core.
Return Game
The Thunderbirds boast explosive playmakers in the return game. Gabe Nunez will handle punt return duties, with Shane Carr and veteran David Spjut providing depth. On kickoffs, fans can expect speed and excitement from Braden Whistler, Jakobi Spence, and Ran Sawyer, a trio capable of flipping field position in a hurry.
Outlook
With King stepping into the lead kicking role, Lipkin solidifying the snapper position, and a deep group of returners ready to make plays, the Thunderbirds' special teams unit is built to be a strength in 2025. Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald has emphasized the importance of winning the field position battle, and this group looks primed to deliver.
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