Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Linda Naiman
Bucknell Football Position Preview: Special Teams
8/16/2019 8:00:00 AM | Football
It's hard to believe now, but Alex Pechin wasn't much of a punter in high school. While he punted occasionally for Unionville High School, he considered himself more of a quarterback and placekicker.
But, when the Bison football coaching staff approached Pechin about punting, he was quick to seize the opportunity; the way he saw it, Bucknell was a perfect fit for him academically, and he couldn't turn down a chance to play football at the Division I level.
"I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Pechin said with a laugh. "I was a little nervous about being a punter, but it turned out really well."
That it has. Over the past two seasons, Pechin has cemented his status as one of the nation's elite punters. After being granted a fifth year of eligibility due to an injury he suffered as a sophomore, he'll have the chance to add to his already storied legacy in 2019.
"I still have a ton to learn," Pechin said. "But how far I've come since the very beginning, when I knew almost nothing about punting, is huge. So many people have helped me, and I'm grateful to them. It's been an interesting ride, and I'm excited to see where it goes."
A masterful situational punter who can boot a 71-yard bomb and plant an Aussie punt on the one-yard line from midfield, Pechin has consistently flipped the field in the Bison's favor. But what has impressed first-year head coach Dave Cecchini the most about his returning All-American, only the 11th two-time captain in Bucknell history, is his leadership.
"He's such a great leader," Cecchini said. "I've never been around a team where the punter has been this highly regarded. To be voted as captain by your peers twice is a compliment in itself; to be voted as captain as a punter is remarkable. It's awesome to see his leadership. And beyond that, he's just so talented. He can run, he can throw the football, he can do it all. He's an athlete. His leg strength is NFL caliber, and he has the mental toughness to go with all his talent. And he's excellent in the classroom. He's everything you could hope and dream for as a coach. He truly has it all."
As they did a year ago, junior Ethan Torres will handle placekicking and kickoff duties while junior Mike Colantuono will snap. Cecchini said that both did a "solid job in the spring" and will continue to benefit from working with Pechin, who doubles as a holder and backup kicker.
In 2018, Bryan Marine served as the Bison's primary return specialist; he excelled, finishing the year ranked in the FCS's top 20 in punt return yards (t-3rd, 296), combined kick return yards (4th, 899) and kickoff return yards (17th, 603). With Marine lost to graduation, sophomore wide receiver Brandon Sanders will take both kickoff and punt returns while senior wide receiver Stefone Moore-Green will be utilized as a kickoff returner. Cecchini expects Sanders, who totaled 73 yards on five kickoff returns as a freshman, to make a big impact as a return specialist, noting that "he has all the tools he needs to make the most of the opportunity."
NOTES: The Bison have four specialists on the roster: one fifth year, two juniors and one freshman ... Of that group two are kickers/punters and two are long snappers ... Isaac Collins will lead the special teams ... Alex Pechin has attracted NFL interest, with scouts from multiple teams coming to watch him during the preseason ... Pechin has captured multiple preseason accolades to date; he also appeared in NFL Draft Diamonds' small school rankings ... Ethan Torres has been reliable on field goals and extra points; he has shown off his leg strength during kickoffs ... Last year, Torres was one of three Bison who shaved their heads to raise pediatric cancer awareness as part of the football team's fundraising for Vs. Cancer, joining now sophomore wide receiver Renn Lints and departed senior safety Drew Newcomb ... Freshman defensive lineman Jack Miller has also taken punts during the preseason ... Mike Colantuono has shown solid chemistry with Pechin ... Freshman walk-on Hayden Snyder gives the Bison depth at the long snapper position ... Snyder is the lone Illinois native on the roster ... Beyond Sanders and Moore-Green, both of whom have looked dynamic during returns, sophomore cornerback Sterling Deary, freshman running back Alex Barnard and freshman wide receiver Connor Holmes have taken repetitions as returners ... Sanders has been one of the standout players of the preseason; beyond his strong play at wide receiver, he has routinely made people miss on his returns ... Moore-Green, who's the lightest player on Bucknell's roster at 155 pounds, plays bigger than his size; he has also used his shiftiness and acceleration to get by defenders during kickoff returns ... As usual, the competition for playing time on special teams is fierce, with hungry newcomers pushing returnees for their spots.
But, when the Bison football coaching staff approached Pechin about punting, he was quick to seize the opportunity; the way he saw it, Bucknell was a perfect fit for him academically, and he couldn't turn down a chance to play football at the Division I level.
"I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Pechin said with a laugh. "I was a little nervous about being a punter, but it turned out really well."
That it has. Over the past two seasons, Pechin has cemented his status as one of the nation's elite punters. After being granted a fifth year of eligibility due to an injury he suffered as a sophomore, he'll have the chance to add to his already storied legacy in 2019.
The decorated Pechin has been named to seven All-America teams to date, most notably becoming the first Bison specialist to make an AFCA or AP squad following the 2018 campaign. A three-time All-Patriot League First Team honoree, he has completely rewritten Bucknell's record book; he enters his final season with the school record in career punting average (43.7) as well as the program's top-three single-season averages of 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015). He finished third in the FCS in punting average in 2017 and fourth in 2018; his 2018 average is made more impressive considering he led the FCS with 81 punts, 24 more than any other punter in the top five in average."It's been an interesting ride, and I'm excited to see where it goes."
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) August 16, 2019
Alex Pechin was lightly recruited as a punter. Now, he's an All-American attracting NFL interest.#ACT | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/OYQmtPxTJd
"I still have a ton to learn," Pechin said. "But how far I've come since the very beginning, when I knew almost nothing about punting, is huge. So many people have helped me, and I'm grateful to them. It's been an interesting ride, and I'm excited to see where it goes."
A masterful situational punter who can boot a 71-yard bomb and plant an Aussie punt on the one-yard line from midfield, Pechin has consistently flipped the field in the Bison's favor. But what has impressed first-year head coach Dave Cecchini the most about his returning All-American, only the 11th two-time captain in Bucknell history, is his leadership.
"He's such a great leader," Cecchini said. "I've never been around a team where the punter has been this highly regarded. To be voted as captain by your peers twice is a compliment in itself; to be voted as captain as a punter is remarkable. It's awesome to see his leadership. And beyond that, he's just so talented. He can run, he can throw the football, he can do it all. He's an athlete. His leg strength is NFL caliber, and he has the mental toughness to go with all his talent. And he's excellent in the classroom. He's everything you could hope and dream for as a coach. He truly has it all."
As they did a year ago, junior Ethan Torres will handle placekicking and kickoff duties while junior Mike Colantuono will snap. Cecchini said that both did a "solid job in the spring" and will continue to benefit from working with Pechin, who doubles as a holder and backup kicker.
In 2018, Bryan Marine served as the Bison's primary return specialist; he excelled, finishing the year ranked in the FCS's top 20 in punt return yards (t-3rd, 296), combined kick return yards (4th, 899) and kickoff return yards (17th, 603). With Marine lost to graduation, sophomore wide receiver Brandon Sanders will take both kickoff and punt returns while senior wide receiver Stefone Moore-Green will be utilized as a kickoff returner. Cecchini expects Sanders, who totaled 73 yards on five kickoff returns as a freshman, to make a big impact as a return specialist, noting that "he has all the tools he needs to make the most of the opportunity."
NOTES: The Bison have four specialists on the roster: one fifth year, two juniors and one freshman ... Of that group two are kickers/punters and two are long snappers ... Isaac Collins will lead the special teams ... Alex Pechin has attracted NFL interest, with scouts from multiple teams coming to watch him during the preseason ... Pechin has captured multiple preseason accolades to date; he also appeared in NFL Draft Diamonds' small school rankings ... Ethan Torres has been reliable on field goals and extra points; he has shown off his leg strength during kickoffs ... Last year, Torres was one of three Bison who shaved their heads to raise pediatric cancer awareness as part of the football team's fundraising for Vs. Cancer, joining now sophomore wide receiver Renn Lints and departed senior safety Drew Newcomb ... Freshman defensive lineman Jack Miller has also taken punts during the preseason ... Mike Colantuono has shown solid chemistry with Pechin ... Freshman walk-on Hayden Snyder gives the Bison depth at the long snapper position ... Snyder is the lone Illinois native on the roster ... Beyond Sanders and Moore-Green, both of whom have looked dynamic during returns, sophomore cornerback Sterling Deary, freshman running back Alex Barnard and freshman wide receiver Connor Holmes have taken repetitions as returners ... Sanders has been one of the standout players of the preseason; beyond his strong play at wide receiver, he has routinely made people miss on his returns ... Moore-Green, who's the lightest player on Bucknell's roster at 155 pounds, plays bigger than his size; he has also used his shiftiness and acceleration to get by defenders during kickoff returns ... As usual, the competition for playing time on special teams is fierce, with hungry newcomers pushing returnees for their spots.
Players Mentioned
RB
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LS
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CB
/ Football
WR
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WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LS
/ Football
P/K
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