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 5, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies kick returner Christian Kirk (3) returns a punt for a 79 yard touchdown against Arizona State Sun Devils in the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies have the SEC’s best punt returner in Christian Kirk. Kirk has an impressive 23-yard average per punt and five touchdowns.

One of Texas A&M’s running backs Keith Ford or Trayveon Williams will likely fill the role of kickoff returner. Both received limited opportunities last season. Ford had a slightly better average.

Kicker Daniel LaCamera only made 17-of-24 field goals last season, four of them in close range (39 yards or closer).

Punter Shane Tripucka enjoyed a strong overall season, averaging 42.9 yards per punt.

However, Tripucka seemed to play down to inferior competition. Two of his three worst punting games of the season came against Prairie View and UT-San Antonio. His 36-yard per punt average in the team’s bowl game against Kansas State was his worst game of the season and especially hurt in a close 33-28 loss. Probably his best game of the season was an opening win against UCLA, in which Tripucka had his longest punt of the season (59 yards) and his second longest average (47.3 yards).

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