By CAYDEN SANDERS
Tiger Media Network
This year, the Fort Hays State University football team’s special teams will have a new look as young players will be expected to compete at a high level. Since last year, the Tigers lost special team’s coach Steven Dudley, and the plan for the Tigers is to split the special teams into every coach’s plate.
But for head coach Chris Brown, Amari Angram-Boldin was the coach to talk to.
Angram-Boldin said this year’s special teams will be different, and he said it’s a better approach.
“Having the ability to have all the coaches tackling the task of special teams is great because we can get all of our ideas and thoughts together,” Angram-Boldin said.
For the position group, the Tigers will have Parker Janky and Carson Arndt headline the kicking duty.
In Janky’s sophomore season, he played in all 11 games, finding himself as the kickoff specialist. During those games, Janky averaged 57.6 yards per kick.
Now entering his junior season, Janky wants to continue improving and have an excellent season for the Tigers.
“I can’t wait to be back on the field with the boys. We have been waiting to play the game,” Janky said. “I have been out with an injury for camp this year but am slowly getting back, but I am ready for this next week.”
Another Tiger specialist looking to make a difference this season is Arndt. Last year, the Wichita Northwest alum played for Butler Community College, where he played in 12 games for the Grizzlies. In that time, Arndt was 9 of 16 on field goal attempts with a 56% success rate. In comparison, extra points came a lot easier as Arndt was 45 of 46 with a success of 98%, scoring 72 points.
Arndt said Hays is home to him.
“With my brother being here as long as he has, I have been to Hays multiple times and I love it here,” Arndt said about his brother, who plays soccer. “Being able to meet some of the people here who know my brother makes me feel like I am back home.”
Another critical piece to the special teams is wide receiver Trevor Watts. Last season, Watts had 151 all-purpose yards against Northwest Missouri, with three kick returns totaling 64 yards. In the season finale, Watts had two punt returns for 16 yards.
The Tigers prepare to take on Northeastern State for their first game of the season at 6 p.m. Thursday in Tahlequah, Okla.
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