Terps Football: 2021 Season Preview – Special Teamers

Led by a new coordinator, Maryland’s special teams units will be looking for more consistency in 2021. Head coach Michael Locksley is hoping that new special teams coordinator Ron Zook’s decades of experience coaching both professionally and at the collegiate level brings more success.

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Note: Players with an asterisk (*) next to their class will have an extra year of eligibility available to them after their senior season due to COVID-19.

The Big Three (Questions)

If Petrino struggles, does he get benched?
After an excellent freshman season, Joseph Petrino’s last two years have been full of struggles. With two younger kickers on the roster, Locksley may have to turn to one of them if Petrino’s inconsistency continues.

Will the punting duo continue?
Over the course of the last two seasons, Locksley has utilized a unique two-punter system. Anthony Pecorella and Colton Spangler kick with opposing legs, and have averaged just over 40 yards per punt together.

Who wins the long snapper job?
After James Rosenberry transferred to Florida State, Maryland became in need of a starting long snapper. With a few young players already on the roster, Locksley added John Berard from Texas Tech to the competition during the offseason.

Ron Zook – Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach

Zook served as an analyst on Locksley’s staff during his first two seasons in College Park, and is now an official member of the coaching staff. He brings 43 years of coaching experience to this job, including 6 seasons coaching with Locksley at both Florida and Illinois. 11 of his seasons have been spent as a special teams coach, 8 of those coming at the NFL level.

Joseph Petrino (Senior*)

2021 Projection: Starter (Kicker)
2020 Statistics: 4/7 FG (57.1%), 14/14 XP (100.0%)

Petrino made 86% of his field goals as a true freshman in 2018, but has a successful conversion rate of just 50% over the course of the last two seasons. He has a big leg, and made a crucial career-long 51-yard field goal in the team’s win against Minnesota last year. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s starting kicker in 2021, but he’ll need to show more consistency if he hopes to keep the job all year long.

Anthony Pecorella (Junior*)

2021 Projection: Co-Starter (Punter)
2020 Statistics: 15 punts, 631 yds (42.1 ypp)

Pecorella is Maryland’s right-footed punter, and is typically used when the team is closest to the right hash. He’s placed 8 punts inside the 20-yard line in each of the last two seasons, with his longest punt being 55 yards last year. I’ve projected him to serve as one of the team’s starting punters in 2021.

Colton Spangler (Junior*)

2021 Projection: Co-Starter (Punter)
2020 Statistics: 13 punts, 511 yds (39.3 ypp)

Spangler is Maryland’s left-footed punter, and is typically used when the team is closest to the left hash. He placed 6 punts inside the 20-yard line last season, and his longest punt was 50 yards. I’ve projected him to serve as one of the team’s starting punters in 2021.

Paul Mouring (Junior*)

2021 Projection: Starter (Long Snapper)
2020 Statistics: Did Not Play

Mouring is in his third year with the Terrapins after joining the team before the 2019 season, and has yet to see the field. He played his high school football at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, MD. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s starting long snapper in 2021, but it’s a job he’ll have to fight for during summer practices.

Hunter Patrick (Sophomore*)

2021 Projection: Second-Team (Kicker)
2020 Statistics: Did Not Play

Patrick joined the team before last season after playing his high school football at Hereford High School in Parkton, MD. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s second-string kicker in 2021, but he could be in line for the starting job if Petrino struggles.

Brenden Segovia (Freshman)

2021 Projection: Second-Team (Punter)
2020 Statistics (High School): N/A

Segovia is a left-footed punter who comes to College Park from Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, CA. He had the ability to play for a number of other schools including Michigan State, UCLA, and USC, but chose Maryland instead. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s second-string punter in 2021.

John Berard (Redshirt Senior*)

2021 Projection: Second-Team (Long Snapper)
2020 Statistics (Texas Tech): 4 games played (2 starts)

Berard comes to College Park from Texas Tech, where he spent the last three seasons. He was primarily a reserve long snapper, but saw action in a few games last year. Before joining the Red Raiders, he spent a year at City College of San Francisco. He’s a local product, having played his high school football at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD.

I’ve projected Berard to serve as the team’s second-string long snapper, but he’ll have every opportunity to win the starting job during summer practices.

Jack Howes (Freshman)

2021 Projection: Third-Team (Kicker/Punter)
2020 Statistics (High School): N/A

Howes comes to College Park from Edgewater High School in Orlando, FL, and has the ability to both kick and punt. He chose Maryland over Georgia Tech, UCF, West Virginia, and others. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s third-string kicker and punter in 2021.

Sebastian Alonso (Sophomore*)

2021 Projection: Third-Team (Long Snapper)
2020 Statistics: Did Not Play

Alonso joined the team before last season after playing his high school football at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, FL. He didn’t see the field last year. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s third-string long snapper in 2021, but will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job during summer practices.

Ethan Gough (Freshman)

2021 Projection: Fourth-Team (Long Snapper)
2020 Statistics (High School): N/A

Gough comes to College Park from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. He chose Maryland over Boston College, Virginia Tech, and others. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s fourth-string long snapper in 2021.