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AUSTIN — Texas coach Mack Brown scanned the statistics sheet from last week’s 41-14 victory over Oklahoma State, identifying the highlights of a breakthrough win in the Big 12 race.
An anomaly caught his eye, causing Brown to utter a statement few coaches in college football could echo."We didn’t score on special teams," Brown said. "But we usually do."Indeed, the Longhorns’ special-teams units have found the end zone in five of the team’s eight games heading into today’s 11 a.m. matchup against Central Florida (5-3) at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Special-teamers have scored six touchdowns: two on punt returns, two on kickoff returns and two on blocked punt returns.Combined with three touchdowns on interception returns by defensive backs, second-ranked Texas (8-0) leads the nation in non-conventional touchdowns with nine. The Longhorns have almost as many non-offensive touchdowns as Tulane has total touchdowns (12), explaining why the Green Wave ranks 119th among the nation’s 120 FBS schools in scoring (13.4 avg.) while Texas tops the charts at 41.8 points per game.Brown said his return teams have reached the point that coaches "feel like we can score any time they step on the field." The most prolific unit is the punt-return squad with four touchdowns. Duane Akina, the Longhorns’ secondary coach, oversees that unit. He also has a waiting list for participants, in large part because Akina enthusiastically recruits players from both sides of the ball and rewards producers with a multi-level membership system similar to those used by hotel chains.Players gain membership in Akina’s club with their first blocked punt or touchdown return. There are eight levels, starting with silver and escalating to burnt orange, the highest level. Each block or touchdown elevates a player to the next level. Among current Longhorns, the highest-ranking member is Aaron Williams, who has reached the fourth level — diamond status.Akina described his system as "a commercial for the idea that nobody is too big for special teams." Among those who have bought into the concept is receiver Jordan Shipley, who has moved up two levels this season with punt-return touchdowns of 46 yards (against Texas Tech) and 74 yards (against Colorado)."Guys want to be a part of it because ... he’s always going to bring the passion," Shipley said of Akina. "It rubs off on you. It’s a way to make an impact for the team, and you generally get the guys that want to be out there the most."Akina, who also works with other special-teams units, called Shipley "a real special return guy that’s got some natural gifts ... if we’ll give him a chance." His recurring dilemma, Akina said, is balancing when to set up a return for Shipley, who averages 15.4 yards per punt return, or when to sell out for the block.The Longhorns have blocked three punts this season, returning two for touchdowns. Texas has 45 blocked kicks since 2002, trailing only Fresno State (48) in that stretch.
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