2023 Specialist Position Preview


2023 Specialist Position Preview


The season is almost near, just 3 Saturdays away from going to face Liberty. With this preview let us take a look at the Specialists going into 2023.


P Sami Sir (photo via BG Athletics)


Looking back at 2022

2022 was the best BG season since 2015 and the specialists had a solid year. 




Mason Lawler handled the kicking duties, Sami Sir the punting and Jack Sauder was the holder while George Carlson was the snapper. Carlson did a really good job snapping, same to be said for Sauder's holding. Sami Sir had some good punts and some bad punts. The true freshman from Australia really started to round into form in the back half of the season especially against CMU and WMU late in the year. I felt Lawler had a really solid season kicking up until the bowl game in which a few missed kicks ultimately proved to be the potential difference in the loss. 


Who will start in 2023? 


My guess would be Sir, Carlson, and Sauder all resume their roles for 2023. Mason Lawler transferred to FCS Incarnate Word for his final year of eligibility so the kicking duties are up for grabs. Owen Rozanc transferred to FCS Missouri State so the remaining kickers are Jack Sauder (redshirt Sophomore), Alan Anaya (redshirt Sophomore), Ethan Warner (redshirt Freshman), and Jackson Kleather (Freshman). None of these three have any kicks in their college career so I have no idea who will be the starter. If Sauder wins the job that will then also open up the holding job. 

I think the specialist will have a good year. Sir has another year of progressing and despite losing Lawler, I see potential for someone to be even better than he was especially since Lawler felt the desire to transfer down to FCS along with Rozanc. This gives me hope either Sauder, Anaya, Warner, or Kleather showed a lot of promise in spring football. 










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