Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Andrew Mascharka
Sizing Up the Special Teams on Day 13 of Camp
8/16/2017 4:39:00 PM | Football
The special teams unit enters year one under coordinator Jay Nunez
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team powered through the middle of the week and opportunity 13 Wednesday, Aug. 16 at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium. With the Eagles already halfway through training camp, today also marks the end of the positional previews, finishing up with the special teams.
EMU is entering year one under the guidance of Special Teams Coordinator Jay Nunez in 2017. Despite losing a few of the pieces off of last year's unit, the first-year coordinator will have plenty of weapons at his disposal this season.
Starting with the kicking duties, redshirt sophomore Paulie Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.-Churchville Chili) returns for his sophomore campaign after his breakout season in 2016. The New York native burst onto the scene, earning All-Mid American Conference Second team honors after breaking the single-season extra point record with 42-of-43 attempts converted, as well as knocking home 19-of-24 field goals, including a long of 46, for a team-high 99 points. The former walk-on earned a scholarship for his efforts, and looks to continue to score copious points for the Green and White this season while sporting a new number, having switched from 66 to 18.
Meanwhile, the other two kicking jobs, as well as the snapping job, are up for grabs after the losses of kickoff specialist Brendan Renius, punter Austin Barnes, and long snapper Chris O'Risky all to graduation. In their stead, Eagles fans will see a host of new faces who will be getting their first on-field action this season.
Kickoffs will be handled by either Fricano himself, or by redshirt junior kicker Jesse Kelly (Ventura, Calif.-St. Bonaventure (Oregon-Ventura College)) who is in his second year in the program. The punting job has three options, with Kelly, redshirt sophomore Ivan Oraha (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford Senior), and 'true' freshman Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) all vying for the position. Finally, the long snapping will be in the hands of either redshirt sophomore Drake Sutton (Menomonee Falls, Wisc.-Menomonee Falls) or 'true' freshman Tucker Gill (Evergreen, Ill.-Mount Carmel).
As for the return units, EMU had eight different kick and punt returners last season, and return all but one of those players to the roster this season. The punt returns were limited to just nine returns for a net of 27 yards, while the kickoffs had a little more success. Led by senior Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde (Mt. San Jacinto College)), who had 24 returns for 440 yards, the unit had just under 1,000 yards worth of returns, for an average of 19.98 yards a kick. Eastern will rely on a mix of these players to continue to win the field position battle.
For updates on the EMU football team, be sure to follow @EMUFB on Twitter with the hashtag #FR4REAL.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single-game tickets went on sale Monday, Aug. 7. Season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team powered through the middle of the week and opportunity 13 Wednesday, Aug. 16 at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium. With the Eagles already halfway through training camp, today also marks the end of the positional previews, finishing up with the special teams.
EMU is entering year one under the guidance of Special Teams Coordinator Jay Nunez in 2017. Despite losing a few of the pieces off of last year's unit, the first-year coordinator will have plenty of weapons at his disposal this season.
Starting with the kicking duties, redshirt sophomore Paulie Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.-Churchville Chili) returns for his sophomore campaign after his breakout season in 2016. The New York native burst onto the scene, earning All-Mid American Conference Second team honors after breaking the single-season extra point record with 42-of-43 attempts converted, as well as knocking home 19-of-24 field goals, including a long of 46, for a team-high 99 points. The former walk-on earned a scholarship for his efforts, and looks to continue to score copious points for the Green and White this season while sporting a new number, having switched from 66 to 18.
Meanwhile, the other two kicking jobs, as well as the snapping job, are up for grabs after the losses of kickoff specialist Brendan Renius, punter Austin Barnes, and long snapper Chris O'Risky all to graduation. In their stead, Eagles fans will see a host of new faces who will be getting their first on-field action this season.
Kickoffs will be handled by either Fricano himself, or by redshirt junior kicker Jesse Kelly (Ventura, Calif.-St. Bonaventure (Oregon-Ventura College)) who is in his second year in the program. The punting job has three options, with Kelly, redshirt sophomore Ivan Oraha (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford Senior), and 'true' freshman Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) all vying for the position. Finally, the long snapping will be in the hands of either redshirt sophomore Drake Sutton (Menomonee Falls, Wisc.-Menomonee Falls) or 'true' freshman Tucker Gill (Evergreen, Ill.-Mount Carmel).
As for the return units, EMU had eight different kick and punt returners last season, and return all but one of those players to the roster this season. The punt returns were limited to just nine returns for a net of 27 yards, while the kickoffs had a little more success. Led by senior Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde (Mt. San Jacinto College)), who had 24 returns for 440 yards, the unit had just under 1,000 yards worth of returns, for an average of 19.98 yards a kick. Eastern will rely on a mix of these players to continue to win the field position battle.
For updates on the EMU football team, be sure to follow @EMUFB on Twitter with the hashtag #FR4REAL.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single-game tickets went on sale Monday, Aug. 7. Season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Football
K
/ Football
LS
/ Football
WR
/ Football
P
/ Football
K
/ Football
LS
/ Football
P
/ Football
K
/ Football
LS
/ FootballNational Signing Day - Behind the Scenes
Wednesday, December 03
2026 EMU Football Early Signing Day Show
Wednesday, December 03
EMU Football Signing Day: Aaron Kearse
Wednesday, December 03
EMU Football Signing Day: Adon Turner
Wednesday, December 03