Football '10 forecast: Special teams

With the Rebels trailing Auburn 31-7 midway through the third quarter last year, Ole Miss kick-returner Jesse Grandy flew past defenders en route to an 82-yard touchdown; seconds later Dexter McCluster scored to make it 31-20.

Though the Rebels eventually lost, it was quite a momentum change that stemmed from special teams, an integral part of football that is often taken for granted.

For the 2010 version of the Rebels, though, special teams can’t be ignored.

With a large amount of last year’s offense gone, it will be up to Grandy and others to pick up the slack, whether that’s by kickoff or punt returns, field goals or the punter and kicker flipping field position.

Grandy, listed as the fourth-team kick returner on Phil Steele’s All-Southeastern Conference team, is the star of Ole Miss’ special teams.

As a true freshman, the Pine Bluff, Ark., native was a strong candidate to redshirt at a rail-thin 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, but the speedy Grandy was tabbed as the Rebels’ starting kick returner against Alabama because of his ability to score from anywhere on the field.

Grandy overcame durability questions with 29 kick-off returns, 746 yards and two touchdowns (his first TD as a returner came against UAB) to become only the third Rebel to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season and the first since 1996.

The doubts about Grandy as a kick returner include the fact that his increased role on the team (starting receiver, Wild Rebel candidate and who knows what else) could affect his performance as a returner, and there’s always a concern about his smallish frame taking a beating.

And add punt returner to Grandy’s responsibilities with the graduation of last year’s starter Marshay Green.

Tailback Brandon Bolden will back up Grandy at both returner positions, and don’t be surprised if scat backs Derrick Herman and Korvic Neat get a shot for time at either position as well.

Then there are the kickers, often times some of the smallest guys on the team, but kick-off specialist Andrew Ritter (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and punter Tyler Campbell (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) buck that trend with bodies that seem more suited for free safety.

Ritter showcased a monster leg as a true freshman, averaging more than 65 yards per kick and collecting 12 touchbacks.

The Jackson native had a strong start to the season but struggled at times as the year wore on. If Ritter can gain more consistency, he’ll be a true weapon for the Rebels with his leg strength allowing him to boom kicks out of the end zone.

Campbell was another pleasant surprise as a true freshman. The Arkansas native, who started for the first time against South Carolina, ranked second in the SEC in with an average of 44 yards per punt with an incredible long of 71 yards.

Finally, there’s the place kicker, whose worth is well known to Ole Miss fans (think LSU 2003).

Joshua Shene, a four-year starter in Oxford, is gone. Former walk-on sophomore Bryson Rose, whose game-time experience consists of only two converted extra points, emerged from a battle with junior David Hankins in the spring as the starter.

Rose will feel a tremendous amount of pressure to assist an Ole Miss offense that will need whatever help it can get in 2010.