When evaluating the University of Miami’s special teams heading into 2025, it’s important to look closely at the recent additions and existing personnel through the lens of proven college football data and performance trends.
Miami Hurricanes Special Teams Coaching Structure (2025)
- Special Teams Coordinator: Danny Kalter — Promoted after serving as senior quality control analyst from 2021 to 2023.
- Special Teams Analyst: Clay James — Former Hurricanes long snapper who joined the staff in 2025.
- Special Teams Analyst: Isa Ferras — Part of the analyst staff supporting Kalter with special teams operations.
Kicking game:
Bert Auburn’s kicking numbers over his career clearly position him among the more reliable college kickers. His career field goal percentage at Texas was roughly 81.85% over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, which aligns with what we typically see from very good to elite kickers at the collegiate level. For context, only a handful of kickers over the past 15 years have managed to sustain career field goal percentages above 85%. Auburn’s down year in 2024, where he hit 64% on field goals and struggled particularly on attempts beyond 40 yards, appears to be more of a mental hurdle than a mechanical decline. His perfect extra point record across all seasons further supports the consistency of his kicking fundamentals.
Bert Auburn – Why He’s Still Elite
- 2022 (Texas): 21/26 FG (80.8%), 55/55 XP
- 2023 (Texas): 29/35 FG (82.9%), 56/56 XP
- Set Texas single-season record with 29 field goals
- Made 19 consecutive field goals during the season
- 2024: 16/25 FG (64%), 64/64 XP
- Struggled mainly from 40+ yards (6/14)
- Perfect on extra points
- High School FG Percentage: 81%
To compare with Andres Borregales
- 2024 (Miami): 18/19 FG (94.7%), 62/62 XP
Andres Borregales' 2024 season was exceptionally rare for a college kicker. He hit 94.7% of his field goals and was perfect on all 62 extra points, those numbers that place him well above typical FBS standards of 75%.
If Auburn can return to the form he demonstrated in 2022 and 2023 where he set Texas’s single-season record with 29 field goals made and connected on 19 consecutive attempts, Miami will have a dependable leg to count on. College kickers routinely miss long field goals, and even maintaining around 50% accuracy from 40+ coupled with near-perfect accuracy inside that range, is often sufficient at this level and he can do that.
Kickoff Coverage:
Miami addition of Carter Davis from FIU in the portal was significant. In 2024, Davis recorded 45 touchbacks on 61 kickoffs a 73.8% touchback rate. By comparison, Miami’s kickoff specialists in 2024 combined for a 64.8% touchback rate (48 touchbacks on 74 attempts). The value of touchbacks can’t be overstated, as they prevent kickoff returns, thereby reducing the chance for explosive plays and easing pressure on coverage units. Miami’s kickoff return defense allowed 22.36 yards per return in 2024, just slightly below the FBS average of approximately 22.4 yards. On top of that, if you take away the two kickoff return touchdowns, Miami’s kickoff return coverage improves dramatically to allowing only 15.61 yards per return, which is elite by any measure. As I stated in another post both kick off return touchdowns were missed tackles by Maekeith Williams.
Replace him with Briton Allen the transfer from Utah, and that should bolster coverage, at worst it takes a liability off the field.
Kickoff coverage teams in college football are typically made up of fast, physical players like backup linebackers, safeties, corners, and wide receivers. Coaches also use athletic backups from other positions and special teams standouts. These players are chosen for their speed, tackling ability, and discipline in staying in their lanes and making open-field stops. With having its most talented team in 20 years according to the blue-chip raatio, Miami’s coaching staff has a deeper pool of high-quality athletes to choose from for their coverage teams.
Players that could be used on kick coverage that Miami did not have in 2024:
Keionte Scott 6-0 195
Kamal Bonner 6-2 220
Briton Allen 6-0 195
CharMar Brown 5-11 218
Kellen Wiley 6-4 240
Amari Wallace 5-10 180
Chris Ewald 6-0 185
Tony Johnson 5-11 190
Jakobe Thomas 6-2 202
Punt and Kick Returns:
Keionte Scott’s 2023 season as Auburn’s punt returner was outstanding. He led the SEC with a 14.8 yards per punt return average, which was 46.5% higher than the national average of 10.1 yards. Miami’s punt return game in 2024 averaged only 6.3 yards per return on 17 returns for 107 total yards. If Scott had returned those punts, applying his 2023 average, Miami would have gained roughly 252 yards more and doubling their actual production and significantly improving field position.
Keionte Scott: 2023 Punt Return Breakdown
- Team: Auburn
- 2023 Role: Primary punt returner
- Honors: Second-Team All-SEC (Return Specialist)
- Stats:
- Punt Returns: 18
- Punt Return Yards: 267
- Average Yards Per Return: 14.8 (1st in SEC)
- Longest Return: 74 yards
- 20+ Yard Returns: 4
- Fair Catches: 9
By contrast, in 2024, Keionte Scott’s punt return production dipped, averaging just 6.3 yards per return with no touchdowns, a significant drop off despite a similar number of opportunities compared to his standout 2023 season. He simply had an overall bad year at Auburn, no other way to put it. The key question now is whether he can recapture his 2023 form and once again become a difference maker in the return game.
On the other hand, Keelan Marion’s 2024 kick return performance was elite. He averaged 26.2 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns, tying for the national lead in return touchdowns and ranking 12th nationally in yards per return. Miami’s 2024 kickoff return unit averaged 18.4 yards per return without scoring any touchdowns. If Marion had returned Miami’s 27 kickoff returns, they would have gained about 707 yards and likely produced multiple touchdowns. This kind of production can dramatically change momentum and field position.
Keelan Marion: 2024 Kick Return Numbers
- Returns: 18
- Yards: 472
- Average: 26.2 yards per return
- Touchdowns: 2 (tied for FBS lead)
Miami Kickoff Return Comparison: 2023 vs. 2024
2023 Primary Returner Brashard Smith:
- Returns: 20
- Yards: 579
- Average: 28.95 yards per return
- Touchdowns: 1
2024 Primary Returner Chris Johnson :
- Returns: 19
- Yards: 464
- Average: 24.42 yards per return
- Touchdowns: 0
Miami’s kickoff scheme stayed the same, but the drop in production from 2023 to 2024 was due to the difference in returner talent. Brashard Smith had more vision and wiggle, while Chris Johnson had a solid season he just doesn’t have the vision to be an elite returner. The return game’s success largely depends on having a dynamic returner and Keelan Marion give Miami exactly that.
Punting and Punt Coverage:
Dylan Joyce averaged 42.5 yards per punt on 25 punts in 2024, putting him in the very good range but slightly below elite, top punters typically average between 45 and 47 yards per punt. Elite punters also tend to handle a higher volume of punts, often 40 or more per season, but Miami high conversion rate on 3rd down kept Joyce on the sideline (where I’m sure we all would like to continue to see him).
Dylan Joyce – University of Miami Punter 2024:
- Punts: 25
- Yards: 1,063
- Average: 42.52 yards per punt
- Games Played: 13
- Punts per Game: 1.9
- Yards per Game: 81.8
- Honors: Named to the 2024 Ray Guy Award Watch List
2024 Miami Punt Return Defense vs. National Average
- Miami Opponent Punt Return Yards: 74
- Opponent Punt Returns: 9
- Average Yards per Return Allowed: 8.22
- National Average: 10.1 yards per return
- Difference: Miami allowed 1.88 fewer yards per return than the national average
- Punt Return Touchdowns Allowed: 0 (Miami)
Miami’s punt coverage team in 2024 performed at a high level, ranking above average nationally. While not elite statistically, the unit was very sound, allowing just 8.22 yards per return, nearly 2 full yards better than the FBS average of 10.1. Most importantly, they didn’t allow a single punt return touchdown, which is a key benchmark of strong special teams discipline. Though they weren’t asked to cover a high volume of returns (only 9 and we all know why
), their consistency and execution on those plays suggest a well coached, reliable unit, falling in the “very good” tier nationally, just shy of elite units that typically allow under 7 yards per return. Again with better talent on the team, that could result in even better punt coverage in 2025.
Punt blocking is one area where Miami was well below average in 2024 and needs serious schematic and personnel changes. Across the FBS, 101 punts were blocked by 84 teams in 2024, two-thirds of the country managed at least one. Miami had none.
Punts get blocked when protection breaks down, often due to overloads, miscommunication, or a slow snap-to-kick time over 2.0 seconds. Top teams like Iowa and Penn State consistently scheme pressure using stunts, delayed blitzes, and explosive athletes off the edge. For Miami to join that tier, they need to dedicate more blue-chip athletes to special teams units, particularly those with edge burst and length such as Xavier Lucas, Marquise Lightfoot, Keionte Scott
Miami must use more aggressive formations like the skinny the backside, two through a gap, or overload fronts, and treat punt block as a true weapon, not a passive play. With the right personnel and mindset, this area can shift from a liability to a momentum-changing strength.
Here is Urban Meyer explaining punt block
Blocking punts in modern college football is a blend of elite athlete deployment, aggressive punt block schemes, and execution. Miami has the talent to fix this but does Miami have the coaching, we shall see.
The University of Miami has quietly assembling one of the most complete special teams units in college football heading into 2025. Bert Auburn remains a reliable kicker despite a tough 2024, while transfer Carter Davis upgrades kickoff touchbacks. Dynamic returners like Keionte Scott and Keelan Marion will give Miami two guys who can take it to the house. Coverage units already beat national averages, and with more bluechip athletes available, Miami’s special teams depth is just better. The main weakness, punt block, can be fixed with smarter scheme and personnel.
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