If University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Russ Huesman is lucky, the position with the most uncertainty going into the 2015 season will be one that's not needed that much.
Nick Pollard, who was a second-team all-Southern Conference punter in 2014, is gone now, and took his 41.7 yards-per punt average with him. The 6-foot, 180-pounder had perfected the rugby-style punt that, with the right bounce, would allow for longer rolls. He had 11 punts of 50 yards or more with a long of 67.
Currently the two finalists for the job are junior Henrique Ribeiro - who already handles place-kicking duties - and sophomore Alejandro Bennifield, who is also the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.
Huesman said Monday that both are a little behind, but that was "to be expected.
"Our job is to make sure they improve each and every day," Huesman said. "Nick was good at it; he had a knack at it (rugby-style punt), but both of those guys have good legs. We'll see if we can get it done with one of those two guys or both."
Ribeiro is the more experienced punter at the college level, but it's not by a lot as he trained for the position behind Pollard the past couple of years. He had one punt in 2014 that traveled 46 yards.
UTC placekicker Henrique Ribeiro punts during the Mocs' spring Blue and White football game Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.Bennifield punted during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Lovejoy High School, and he has the type of speed and elusiveness that could provide for the occasional fake punt.
"Back then I didn't think I was getting in (as a punter), so I didn't put much effort into it, but this year I've really been focusing on it," Ribeiro said. "Ever since I got here, I've been learning behind Nick; he helped a lot in my transition, as far as learning how to punt and how Coach wants the ball. This year, I've got it down better because I have to."
Bennifield sees punting as another opportunity to get on the field while learning behind two-time SoCon offensive player of the year Jacob Huesman at quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is willing to do whatever he can to play.
"I'm still trying to get used to rugby-style punting," he said. "I actually find punting kind of easy, so it's about learning technique and I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. Right now I'm just doing what Coach asks me to do; he'll decide who plays and doesn't play. I love to play, so I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity to get on the field, whether it's punter, quarterback or receiver.
"If Coach tells me to play defensive end, that's where I'm going to have to go."
STATS rank Mocs eighth
UTC was ranked eighth in the STATS Football Championship Subdivision poll released Monday.
The Mocs received 2,590 votes and are a spot behind Jacksonville State - their opponent in the Sept. 5 season opener - in the poll. UTC also is ranked eighth in the FCS coaches' poll, one spot ahead of the Gamecocks in the list released last week.
Four-time defending national champion North Dakota State is the overwhelming favorite, while New Hampshire, who ended the Mocs' 2014 season, is ninth.
Southern Conference opponents Western Carolina, Samford, Mercer and Furman received votes in the STATS poll.
JSU tickets on sale
Single-game tickets for the Jacksonville State game are on sale now on GoMocs.com or by calling the UTC ticket office at 266-MOCS (6627). Prices start at $10 for youth and $15 for faculty and staff.
Season tickets are still on sale for the five-game home schedule. Cost begins at $50 for youth, alumni, faculty and staff. Full details are on GoMocs.com and any questions can be answered by calling 266-MOCS.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.