preview: Special teams

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Auburn 2022 fall camp position preview: Special teams

Published: Aug. 04, 2022, 7:00 a.m.

6-8 minutes

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This is the 11th in an 11-part series examining each position group ahead of the start of Auburn’s fall camp on Friday. The final installment looks at Auburn’s specialists.

Auburn’s special teams units will benefit from continuity heading into Bryan Harsin’s second season, with the Tigers returning their starting kicker, punter and long snapper, as well as their top-three kickoff returners and their second-leading punt returner from 2021.

The biggest change for the group will come at the top, where Roc Bellantoni takes over as special teams coordinator this season, replacing Bert Watts (whom Bellantoni also replaces as Auburn’s edge coach this season). Auburn’s special teams have generally been strong in recent years — in part due to the steadiness of having a Carlson at kicker — and the group will look to continue that this fall under Bellantoni.