Ask a Northwestern special teams unit player what position they would play if not on special teams, and they will tell you quarterback. At least, that is what punter Brandon Williams, kicker Jeff Budzien and snapper Pat Hickey said in a recent addition to Northwestern’s video series that takes a look behind the scenes with the football program. Perhaps they should stick to their regular positions, because as the video demonstrates, Northwestern’s special team players have some skills worth showing off.
Skills like snapping a football through two rotating tires traveling in different directions and the ability to long snap a football from scaffolding behind a goal post and have a place kicker send it right back up to him in one sequence.
We almost never give special teams players their props, but perhaps for a couple of minutes we can applaud the work being done by Northwestern’s special teams unit.
The trick shots in this video start at the 1:48 mark. They are quick, but worth checking out.
If you were wondering, no team in the Big Ten has kicked as many field goals (12) this season than Northwestern and the Wildcats have allowed just three long kickoff returns this season, among the best in the Big Ten.
Helmet sticker to Big Ten Network.