Preseason Camp Preview: ST

Assessing where things stand for the Oregon football team entering the start of preseason camp July 31.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Who's back: Placekicker Aidan Schneider followed up an all-conference season in 2015 by making 9-of-12 field-goal attempts as a junior in 2016. That put the former walk-on from the Portland area at 42-of-48 for his career. He's phenomenally accurate from inside 40 yards, and working to extend his range so that he's equally consistent from 45 or 50. Also back is long snapper Tanner Carew, who's had an essentially flawless career to this point. His backup, Devin Melendez, is an experienced reserve. As usual, the Ducks have a plethora of options to return kicks, including the likes of Tony Brooks-James, Charles Nelson, Royce Freeman, Casey Eugenio and others.

Who's new: The Ducks need to identify a new punter after Ian Wheeler passed up on his final year of eligibility to enter the ministry. Blake Maimone has practiced with the team and now has the chance to win a job at Oregon. True freshman Adam Stack has been on hand since winter quarter, and he'll be in the mix as well. With kickoff specialist Matt Wogan having graduated, Schneider, Stack and redshirt freshman walk-on Zach Emerson are in the mix for that job. The Ducks also added another walk-on, Alec Hallman, this summer.

ROB'S TAKE

Projected depth chart
PK: Aidan Schneider, Sr.; Zach Emerson, RFr.; Adam Stack, Fr.; Alec Hallman, Fr.
P: Blake Maimone, So.; Adam Stack, Fr.
LS: Tanner Carew, Sr.; Devin Melendez, Jr.
HLD: Taylor Alie, Sr.; Charles Nelson, Sr.
KOR: Tony Brooks-James, Jr.; Charles Nelson, Sr.
PR: Charles Nelson, Sr.; Darrian McNeal, Fr.

What to watch: The punting job holds the most intrigue at this point, and presumably Maimone and Stack will resume their spring battle for that job. At holder, veteran Taylor Alie is a long-tenured "starter," but Nelson got some experience doing that job last season, and could be an option again moving forward. Then, of course, there are a bunch of new, athletic skill position players on hand who figure to factor into the return game, and linebackers and defensive backs with the potential to impact coverage of kicks and punts.

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