Thursday, August 25, 2011

After injury-filled year, Delaware State kickers grab spotlight

Dover, DE - Placekickers are often the misfits of the football field. They practice their craft mostly on the side, while coaches place the majority of their focus on the rest of the team.

But Delaware State University's football team learned firsthand the importance of kickers when its starter got hurt last season. Starter Mario Diaz-Aviles severely sprained his ankle in the first game. Then, after backup kicker Nick Elko also suffered an injury, the Hornets found their cupboards bare.

Without a reliable kicking option, DSU had to go for touchdowns when it got deep in the opposition's territory, rather than trying for what normally would have been routine field goals. New Hornets coach Kermit Blount doesn't want a repeat. To that end, he has added kicking depth.

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