- BEST IN STATE -

BEST IN STATE: Introducing North Carolina’s top FBS special teams players

NC State, UNC, Charlotte and App State put players on first team

Published

August 14, 2023

Special teams can be the difference between winning and losing in a game – and in a season.

Here are special teams players from North Carolina’s FBS schools we believe will be difference-makers in our state this season. Introducing the first-ever “Best In State” FBS Preseason All-State Specialists team.

Preseason MVP

Milan Tucker, Appalachian State:

We wrote about the redshirt junior earlier today. Click HERE for the story announcing Tucker as Preseason Special Teams MVP

FBS First-Team Specialists

Kicker – Brayden Narveson, NC State

The graduate transfer from Scottsdale, Ariz., was a 2020 semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (which honors the nation’s top kicker) while playing at Western Kentucky … Transferred to NC State and will replace the 2022 Groza winner, Christopher Dunn … Has hit more than 50 field goals in his career (21 from 40-plus yards) and has never missed on 158 extra point tries.

Punter – Ben Kiernan (Grad), North Carolina

The graduate from Dublin, Ireland earned third-team All-ACC performer a year ago, averaging 46.8 yards per punt … had 14 punts of 50-plus yards … pinned 18 punts inside the opponents’ 20 yard line.

Kick Returner – Milan Tucker, Appalachian State

The redshirt-junior from Lehigh Acres, Fla., returned a kick 96 yards for a touchdown against Marshall last season … finished second in the nation in average yards per return (28.2).

Long Snapper – Joe Shimko, NC State

Graduate student from Belmar, N.J., has literally never delivered a bad snap during his college career in 475 attempts … earned second-team AFCA All-America status a year ago and was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, recognizing the nation’s best snapper.

All-Purpose – Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte

The redshirt junior from Coy, Ala., led the 49ers in all-purpose yards a year ago with 1,494 (620 rushing, 222 receiving and 652 returning, 5 total touchdowns) … Earned honorable mention All-Conference USA as a kick-returner … Named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week once and was twice named to the Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll.

Charlotte’s Shadrick Byrd is on the Paul Hornung Award watch list (which recognizes the most versatile player in college football), along with Appalachian State’s Milan Tucker and Duke’s Jaylen Stinson. (Graphic courtesy of Charlotte 49ers athletics).

FBS Honorable Mention Specialists

Kicker – Ryan Coe, North Carolina

The graduate transfer from McDonald, Pa., has kicked for Cincinnati and Delaware the past four seasons, making 45-of-57 field goals and all 91 PATs, while kicking off 205 times and notching 107 touchbacks … Earned second-team All-American Athletic for Cincinnati a year ago.

Punter – Porter Wilson, Duke

The graduate student from Akron, Ohio, has punted 160 times in 36 games for 6,992 yards (43.7 average), with 59 boots downed inside the opponents’ 20.

Kick Returner – Jaylen Stinson, Duke

The senior from Opelika, Ala., was named preseason All-ACC has a return specialist … Averaged 25.3 yards per return in 2022 (15 returns, 380 yards) … Also starts at safety.

Long Snapper – Drew Little, North Carolina

The graduate student from Richfield, N.C., will be entering his fifth season as the Tar Heels’ deep snapper … Has appeared in 49 games and has at least one tackle each season … On the preseason watch list for the Mannelly Award the past two years.

All Purpose: Jsi Hatfield, East Carolina

The senior from Graham has explosive potential as a rusher, receiver and kick-returner … Returned 14 kickoffs for 387 yards (27.6 avg.) with one touchdown a year ago. The TD return covered 97 yards.

Kicker: Matthew Dennis, Wake Forest

The redshirt sophomore from Charlotte finished last season 12-for-14 on field goal attempts, ranking in the top 25 in field goal percentage. Hit 56-for-57 in extra point attempts.