PROVO, Utah — BYU began its fourth and final week of fall camp with practice Monday morning. Today's position preview looks at the Cougar specialists including kickers, punters and long snappers.
In addition to his duties as the defensive ends coach, Kelly Poppinga returns to lead the special teams unit for the third straight year and sixth overall in that role at BYU. Poppinga also spent time as the special teams coordinator at Boise State (2022) and Virginia (2016-17).
Placekicker Will Ferrin headlines the kicking game as he returns for his senior season after being named the Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in 2024. The product of Kaysville, Utah, was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and led the conference 113 points.
Ferrin set the BYU single-season record with 24 made field goals last year and also holds the top career field goal percentage at BYU with an .854 success rate. Ferrin also has 71 consecutive PATs made heading into the 2025 season. In addition to being named to multiple preseason All-Big 12 teams, Ferrin has been named to the 2025 Lou Groza Award Watch List after being named a semifinalist in 2024. Ferrin was also named to the CSC Academic All-District team last year.
Matthias Dunn returns as a placekicker after seeing action on kickoff duties for two games last season.
Sam Vander Haar is back and expected to handle punting duties as well as serve as the teams holder for placekicking. The Melbourne, Australia native, averaged 42.8 yards per punt last season, dropping 14 inside the 20-yard line and posted a career-best 70 yarder. Like Ferrin, Vander Haar was also a CSC Academic All-District selection in 2024.
Newcomer Fuller Shurtz, from Katy, Texas, adds another punter to the mix in 2025.
Long snapping duties are expected to be handled by transfer Garrison Grimes, out of Baylor. Grimes, the son of former BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, appeared in 31 games for Baylor and was the primary long snapper for three seasons for the Bears after redshirting in 2021. Grimes was named to Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll and First-Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2022.
Ty Smith, another long snaper from Gilbert, Arizona, joins the program after spending time at Boise State last season.