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FSU football: Special team questions heading into spring camp

By Kelvin Hunt

In a photo illustration composed of two images, the stadium seats of Doak Campbell Stadium are empty during a Florida State football game. There is a possibility that this is what the football season could look like.Doak Empty Illustration
In a photo illustration composed of two images, the stadium seats of Doak Campbell Stadium are empty during a Florida State football game. There is a possibility that this is what the football season could look like.Doak Empty Illustration /
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Kickoff/Punt Return

The punt return unit hasn’t been great in quite some time for the Noles. The unit only returned eight punts last season, and three of those were against Jacksonville State.

Some of that was on the defense for not getting enough stops, but the punt return average was a mediocre 8.25 yards (No. 52 nationally).

Florida State Seminoles Football
Florida State Seminoles Football /

Florida State Seminoles Football

This was a two-yard improvement over 2019, but that near close to good enough with the athletes FSU had on its roster.

Keyshawn Helton had five of the returns, Travis Jay had two, and Ja’Khi Douglas had the other one.

Travis Jay was the most explosive of the three, averaging 10 yards per turn. Can he be the guy in 2021? Keyshawn Helton was still recovering from his 2019 season-ending injury, so he could be a different guy in 2021 if he’s able to capture his pre-injury 2019 form.

Could Corey Wren be a factor after dealing with injuries most of last season? He averaged nearly 25 yards per return his senior year in high school.

We could see freshman Destyn Hill emerge here or as a kickoff returner too. I’d like to see FSU’s punt return team do a better job of blocking and give the returners a chance to make a play with the ball.

Kickoff return saw Travis Jay get the bulk of the action with 10 returns for a 22.90-yard return average. Ja’khi Douglas had eight returns for a 19.75-yard return average. Keyshawn Helton had five returns for a 26-yard return average. Corey Wren and Jashaun Corbin each had a couple of returns and averaged 15 and 16 yards per return. This is an area that needs to see drastic improvements or take the fair catch and take the ball at the 25-yard line.

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