TEAM126 PREVIEW

Unit: Special Teams

Who It Includes: Placekicker, Punter, Holder, Kick Returners, Long Snappers

Who We Lost: Returner/holder Timmy Mills; Long Snapper Danny Drummond

Who We've Got Back: PK Joe Philipp; P Jack Shannon; KR David Graham

Newcomers To Watch: Brenden Mikesell, Javon Barr, Alec Foos

Overview: While the special teams aren't always the highest-scoring or most glamorous parts of a football team, that unit is absolutely critical to the success of any team. Sound kicking, kick coverage and good kick returners can make other aspects of the game much easier or harder for the offense or defense.

As Hillsdale heads into the 2018 season, it's kicking duties are covered by a pair of talented players who improved throughout the freshman seasons last year. 

Shannon earned the starting punter spot as a true freshman in 2017, and his 38.0 yards-per-punt average was the highest by any Charger in five years. He could potentially be Hillsdale's first four-year starter at punter in more than a decade.

Philipp, a Hillsdale High School standout, scored 77 points last year, going 44-for-46 on extra points and 11-for-14 on field goal attempts. He missed just one field goal attempt in the months of October and November of last year and tied a single-game school record with seven successful extra point kicks in the homecoming win over Kentucky Wesleyan.

Coach Otter: "Both our kicker and punter have a year under their belt and bring maturity and stability to their positions. With two experienced guys, it allows us to be consistent in those phases of the game."