Marshall University Athletics
O?Connor Hoping to Make Impact on Special Teams
8/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
O?Connor Hoping to Make Impact on Special Teams
8/14/2003
Freshman kicker Ian O'Connor is hoping to make a big impact in 2003. (Photo by Bob Pristash) |
The loss of former Herd kicker Curtis Head left a large void for the Thundering Herd to fill, but one player hoping to make an immediate impact in the void is freshman Ian O?Connor.
O?Connor, in his first year out of Halls High in Knoxville, Tenn., is competing for the starting kicker position.
?Ben (Lewis) is pretty much a given from 40 and under, but me and Nick (Kelly) will be competing to kick the longer field goals,? O?Connor said after practice Thursday. ?It really depends on who is on and who is off on a given day, but I am hoping right now to come in and make an impact.?
O'Connor has high expectations for himself, and is adjusting well to playing at the Division I-A level.
?The speed of the rush is faster at this level, but I am slowly getting used to it?, O?Connor said. ?There is more competition here. In high school I was the only kicker, but here I am competing against five other kickers. I have to do my best every time.?
O?Connor is getting more comfortable with every practice and is happy with the progress he has made thus far.
Coach Bob Pruett is also happy with O?Connor and has high expectations not only for the young kicker, but the special teams as a whole.
?Ian is working hard and we plan on having him kick off and work on the longer field goals while Ben works on the shorter ones?, Pruett said.
With the impact O?Connor and the other special teams players have made so far, the special teams may indeed be ?special?.
The Thundering Herd will continue training camp on Friday with practices slated for 8 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. The team will hold its first scrimmage on Saturday at 2 p.m.
-- by Bob Pristash (Marshall Sports Information)
