[BJWilliams]

This week (on Thursday) marks exactly 9 weeks until the start of the 2013 season at Kent State. So I thought Id take a look at the team over these final weeks with training camp only five weeks and three days away. In order to streamline the OP, I will link to my spring outlook threads at the start and list incoming players (if any).

I thought Id flip the script this year and start where I normally end, with the special teams.

Fan the Flames 2013 Spring Outlook; Special Teams

Players Lost

Brian Hudson Holder (transferred to Campbell)
Ryan Ayers Punt Returner(left team)

Players Incoming

Trey Turner 5-11 195 Lbs Rome HS Rome, GA Punter

NOt much is known about the preferred walk-on from an hour outside of Atlanta, except a couple videos on youtube:

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With Grant Bowden as the only other "pure punter" on the roster(Lunsford also punts but he will be called upon mostly for kicking duties), Turner will get a chance to learn and get his chance to earn the punting job for himself in spring of 2014 even as the staff has a punter on the radar in the 2014 recruiting class.

Hunter Winstead 6-0 215 Lbs Heritage High School Wake Forest, NC Long Snapper

Winstead has an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Richard Wright, who joined the Flames as a walk-on and has now been named first team all-conference the last two seasons, following Dan Pope who was also two time first team all-conference. If he is as good as advertised, no matter who is kicking or punting for Liberty in the coming years, they will not have to worry about who will be getting them the ball.

Also look for a number of incoming freshmen to get a chance to field kicks in practice, including Toddrick Macon, Josh Smith, Justin Fritts, Zac Parker, Gary Sampson and Wesley Scott to name a few. With the amount of experience returning, they may not be called upon in a game, but Id expect that they all will get a chance to learn, and who knows, they may be next man up much like DJ Abnar was last year.

Also, Hudson was the holder last season so that adds an extra element to the battle for the backup QB spot as whoever wins that battle will also be the holder on field goals and extra points.