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Posted: Aug 05, 2018

Camp Preview: Special Teams

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With the Bryant University football team set to open camp on August 6, BryantBulldogs.com breaks down the Black and Gold position by position.  

Special Teams

Returning: Jean Constant (Delray Beach, Fla.), Gavin Rowley (Hampstead, Md.), Jordan Laube (Westhampton Beach, N.Y.), Nate Taylor (Peabody, Mass.), James Picerelli (Warren, R.I.), Luke Samperi (Beverly, Mass.), Sam Ruzzi (Stamford, Conn.), Chris Carver (Andover, Mass.)

Newcomers: Ben Myers

Position Coach: Darryl Jackson

Notes and Notables

  • Bryant lists six kickers and two long snappers on its roster heading into August camp.
  • The Bulldogs welcome back their top two specialists from a season ago, All-NEC performers Constant and Rowley.
  • The Black and Gold lost their top returner from a season ago, Matt Sewall.  
  • Constant set a program record with 989 return yards, including two touchdowns, last fall. He ranked in the top five nationally in combined kick return yards.
  • Constant matched the longest kick return in school history with a 100-yard score at Wagner.
  • Rowley returns after becoming the first kicker in DI program history to earn All-NEC honors. He went 7-for-9 on field goals, leading the league with a 78 percent conversion rate.
  • Rowley also went 36-of-38 on PATs, averaged 54.1 yards per kickoff and 36.9 yards per punt.
  • Rowley put 19 of his punts inside the opponents 20.
  • The Bulldogs will have to replace Eric Reyes, their short snapper, but do return long snapper Laube.
  • Picerelli, who started several games in 2016, is back for his junior season.

Fun Fact

  • The Bulldogs have returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of the last three seasons and five of the last six.

The Bryant University football team begins its 20th season on September 1 vs. New Haven. Tickets are available at BryantBulldogs.com/Tickets.

Follow Bryant University football on Twitter and Instagram to get an inside look at the program.