Special teams will look very similar to their 2005 counterparts. Senior kicker John Deraney will handle the majority of the kicking duties, and junior receiver Darrell Blackman looks to be the top guy on kickoff and punt returns.

But even though Deraney, who was a semifinalist for the 2005 Lou Groza Award, made 15 of 20 field goals last season while going 28 for 28 on extra points, he said he is hoping to improve on his junior season enough to find himself in the NFL.

“I’m just expecting to do better than I did last year,” Deraney said. “I’m hoping to help the team and give myself an opportunity to get to the next level.”

Continuing from his junior year in high school, Deraney has yet to miss an extra point — 62 consecutive conversions, a school record.

Blackman said seeing that he should get plenty of opportunities to find the end zone, he is hoping to make some game-changing plays.

“Right now the situation [has] me as No. 1 in punt returns and kickoff returns, so I’m just back there trying to do the best I can and make plays for my team when it is time to.”

Throughout his career, Blackman has returned one punt for a touchdown and is averaging just more than 10 yards per punt return. On kickoff returns, he is averaging nearly 30 yards per return.