SEC Football: Ranking the top special teams units for 2017

Sep 1, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks place kicker Elliott Fry (29) kicks the winning field goal against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. South Carolina won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 26, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels place kicker Gary Wunderlich (97) kicks the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Ole Miss Volunteers

Ole Miss is in a good place on special teams mainly because kicker Gary Wunderlich is returning for his senior season. Wunderlich is fresh off a third-team All-American season while succeeding on 22-of-23 field goal attempts.

Nathan Noble graduated, so Wunderlich will probably handle both place kicking and kickoff duties. Will Gleeson, who split punting duties with Wunderlich, will probably take over as the sole punter. He averaged 44.1 yards per punt.

Ole Miss must replace Carlos Davis both at kick and punt returner. While Van Jefferson’s numbers weren’t as strong as Davis’, he has experience and traits to step in as punt returner.

Zedrick Woods fielded a kickoff return in 2016 and returned it for 26 yards. It’s a limited sample, but Woods could be one of two options for kickoff returns, while Jefferson might slot in as the secondary kickoff returner.

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