MSU-N football special team's preview for 2013

Kickers, punters, ultra-fast return men, those things can be the difference between wins and losses in college football. The Montana State University-Northern Lights saw a couple of special team’s plays make the difference against them in 2012, and they’re hoping to turn the tables this fall.

The biggest difference the Lights will have on special team’s this season is the addition of a full-time place kicker. As a sophomore, cornerback Trevor Baum handled the place-kicking duties, and while Baum did a good job for the Lights, Northern went out and recruited a full-time kicker in the spring in Jordan Rueschoff, who comes to MSU-N from Glendale Community College in Arizona.

Already in fall camp, Rueschoff has shown off his powerful leg, and he looks to be very accurate, so he gives the Lights a threat they just didn’t quite have a season ago.

“Jordan Reuschoff is really going to help our football team,” Northern head coach Mark Samson said. “I thought Trevor (Baum) did a good job out of necessity for us last year, but adding a full-time place kicker will be a big plus for us. I think it just gives as an added scoring dimension when we’re in field goal range.”

Baum will still handle the punting duties for the Lights. A year ago, Baum did an excellent job as Northern’s punter, averaging 37 yards per punt. Baum will also back up Rueschoff, while Rueschoff will back up Baum on punts. Northern’s long snapper this season is Austin Schroeder, while Owen DeBruckyer will be the short snapper.

And though MSU-N lost two great returners last season in Kyle Johnston and Stephen Silva, the Lights want to see improvement in the return game. Northern didn’t have a single score from a punt or kick return a season ago, but with all of the talent the Lights have in the return game, that trend could be turned around quickly.

Senior wide receiver Orin Johnson will be the top punt returner for the Lights, while red-shirt freshmen wide receivers Jake Messerly and Dylan Woodhall will also be in the rotation. Messerly, Trevor Baum, Lavorick Williams and Woodhall will all have a chance to return kickoffs this season.

“Special team’s is an area where we need to be really good, and right away too,” Samson said. “I think we can be. It’s a big part of being successful, and I think we have players who can do that for us this season.”