Oregon Ducks Practice Reveals Special Teams Unit's Intense Kicking Competition

As Fall practices continue for the Oregon Ducks’ football program, the competition continues as well. Friday following practice No. 8 for the Ducks, Special Teams Coordinator coach Joe Lorig gave insight into the competition for Kicker positions and what all goes into deciding who takes the field.

Oregon players attempt to block a kick by kicker Grant Meadors during practice with the Oregon Ducks Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

EUGENE- As The Oregon Ducks prepare for their debut season in the Big Ten Conference, competition continues to heat up across the boards. One position where the competition is extremely stiff is among the Ducks’ Kickers. The competition at the kicker positions is as tight as ever with several players competing for starting roles. 

“It’s almost dead even right now,” said Lorig about the competition for kickoff. “I think the next couple of weeks will really provide some clarification for us. Both [Atticus Sappington and Grant Meadors] are really good.” 

Jan 1, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks place kicker Grant Meadors (93) kicks the ball against the Liberty Flames during the second half in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Meadors, a kicker from Bakersfield, California, joined the Ducks last year as a true freshman where he utilized a redshirt. Last season, Meadors appeared in five games kicking off eight times for 502 total yards with four touchbacks. The freshman also went 5-for-5 on extra point attempts. 

During the offseason, Lorig was able to secure a commitment from Sappington, a junior kicker who spent his last three seasons an hour north of Eugene at Oregon State. Last season, the Oregon native played in 12 games as Oregon State’s primary kicker. Sappington led the Pac-12 and ranked fifth nationally in field goal percentage at 92.86, converting on 13-of-14 attempts. His outstanding performance earned Sappington Phil Steele All-Pac-12 third team honors. He is looking to continue his upward trajectory as a Duck in the coming season. 

Nov 18, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers place kicker Atticus Sappington (36) kicks an extra point during the second half against the Washington Huskies at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports / Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports

It is not only Meadors and Sappington who are in the running for the kickoff position but also a true freshman who has been kicking well throughout Oregon’s fall camp. 

“Gage [Hurych] here who’s a freshman, he’s right in the mix too. He’s super talented as well.” 

Hurych experienced great success in high school, earning him national recognition. The kicker out of West Linn, Oregon, was viewed as a five-star prospect and the No. 31 kicking recruit nationally by Chris Sailer Kicking and rated the 13th-best kicking prospect in the country by 247Sports. 

With competition so tight, how does Oregon’s coaching staff go about putting the best possible option on the field? According to Lorig, it’s in the statistics. 

Oregon Special Teams Coordinator Joe Lorig, center, during the first practice of the 2022 season. Eug 0310222 Uo Football 13 / Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

“Every three days we go into Autzen, we chart kicks and it’s pretty simple,” explained Lorig. “It’s pretty simple. We just base it on ball location, hangtime, and touchback percentage and then whoever is going to give you the best opportunity to eliminate explosive returns…you just look at the numbers to be honest with you.” 

Although a lot of what Lorig and Oregon’s coaching staff evaluate involves numbers, a significant aspect of kicker success has to do with how the athlete handles pressure and if they can perform under stress. 

“You got to put them in pressure situations,” said Lorig when asked about how he prepares his kickers. “Some guys can be really good at it in practice when no one’s there. And it’s not the same with the fans and the distractions and all the things that come along with game day. So you try to replicate that as much as you can.” 

Oct 28, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Oregon Ducks kicker Camden Lewis (49) kicks a PAT against the Utah Utes during the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports / Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

Although Lorig admitted that you can’t create that high-pressure game-day feeling in practice, he tries to replicate it through challenges in practice. 

“If you miss this field goal the whole team runs type of stuff,” explained Lorig. “It’s a different kind of mental toughness. That's probably the hardest thing to evaluate.” 

Another crucial piece to Oregon’s kicking room is Andrew Boyle, who missed the 2023 season due to injury. However, this season Boyle says he is 100% ready to lace up his cleats this season. Although Boyle was absent last season, he has plenty of experience with the pressure that comes with being a kicker. 

Oregon kicker Andrew Boyle works out during a practice with the Ducks Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Sports Oregon Footballspring Practice / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

“As a kicker, you can’t be too hung up on any one kick or any one day’s performance. I mean, it’s all just about the next kick, sticking to your process and sticking to your routine,” said Boyle Friday after practice. 

As the competition heats up for Oregon’s Kickers, they will have the opportunity to showcase their skills Saturday for the Ducks’ first scrimmage of the 2024 fall camp. 

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