TFON by Bailey Vianello UCvMemphis 
UC vs USF Homecoming 2020 by Bailey Vianello
Cincinnati football is not just dominant on offense and defense, but special teams is looking to continue to flex their consistency and dominance this 2021-2022 season. Accomplished veteran kicker, Cole Smith served as UC’s primary placekicker and kick-off specialist in all 10 games in the 2020-2021 season. Smith finished the season 7-for-10 on field goals with a season-long 47-yard boot at UCF and 48-of-50 on PAT tries. Smith averaged 57.5 yards per kickoff on 61 boots with 23 touchbacks. He tallied nine points in the rain during the AAC title game, booting two field goals and three PATs. Entering his senior year looking to add to the team’s success. Along with sophomore long snapper Cayson Pfeiffer, who was UC’s primary long snapper during the AAC-championship season and saw action in all 10 games. Snapped on 50 PATs, 40 punts and 10 field-goal attempts. Recorded his first career tackle in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Georgia. sophomore kickers, Bryce Burton, Alex Bales will contribute to the special teams meeting room along with freshman kicker Christian Lowery.
Freshman punter’s Brady Young and Mason Fletcher look to start their college careers with high expectations. Australian punter Mason Fletcher was a composite three-star recruit and was the No. 6 punter in the 2021 class. Freshman Brady Young from Perrysburg, Ohio had a successful high school career with his high school team going 8-3 this past season, he is looking to build and contribute in this year’s special teams unit.
With many viable and speedy kick returners, who all bring different skill sets to the field. UC’s special team coordinator Brian Mason has some great options to put in the back field this upcoming season. Coach Mason enters his fourth year at Cincinnati and third on the coaching staff as the special teams coordinator and snipers coach. He has been part of a UC staff which coached the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive bowl-game wins in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
