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Photo by: DSPics.net
Photo by: DSPics.net
Posted: Aug 15, 2019

Football Season Preview: Specialists

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team opens the 2019 season on Aug. 29 at Stony Brook. BryantBulldogs.com will preview the 2019 Bulldogs position-by-position over the next two weeks.

Special Teams

Returning: Gavin Rowley (Hampstead, Md.), James Picerelli (Warren, R.I.), Nate Taylor (Peabody, Mass.), Donato Caraciollo (Fairfax, Va.), Luke Samperi (Beverly, Mass.), Ben Myers (Mohnton, Pa.), Chris Carver (Andover, Mass.), Vincent Nisivoccia (Nutley, N.J.)

Newcomers: William Enright (Sherman, Conn.)

Positions Coach: John Sielawa

Notes and Notables

  • The specialists unit features seven returners from last year's squad.
  • Bryant will welcome back its punter, kick off kicker, PAT kicker and its punt long snapper from last year.
  • Rowley returns as the punter and kick-off taker after averaging 36.9 yards per punt and 55.6 yards per kick off.
  • Rowley was also an All-NEC Second Team kicker in 2017 after making 7-of-9 field goals.
  • Samperi will most likely open the season as the PAT and field goal kicker. His first-career field goal was a game-winning field goal as time expired against Fordham.
  • Samperi also converted 31-of-34 PATs.
  • Nisivoccia returns as one of the premier returners in the Northeast Conference. He averaged 22.5 yards per return a season ago and had an 86-yard kick return score in the season finale.

Fun Fact

  • Samperi's game-winning field goal at Fordham last year was the first of its kind in program history. The field goal was a 42-yarder.

The Bulldogs open the 2019 season on Thursday, August 29 at Stony Brook. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Season and single-game tickets are also on sale now at www.bryantbulldogs.com/tickets.

To get all the latest information and a behind-the-scenes look at Bryant Football follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.