HUNTINGTON — Marshall's football team's special teams overhaul is going well, in the eyes of special teams coordinator Jackson White.
The Thundering Herd have a new kicker, punter and long snapper, but it's nothing new for White.
The Herd brings in local standout Cooper Heimbach as a punter and kickoff specialist. Chase Ortiz looks to line up at snapper, and placekicking seems split early in camp between Jorge Diaz Nicolas and recent signee Samuel Guiden Krebs.
Krebs is a freshman from Ireland and worked with the same developmental group as former Herd kicker Lorcan Quinn — Leader Kicking.
"It's the same position that we were in last year," White said. "It's different in the fact that we lost all-Americans and all-conference guys. The year before, we just lost the starters. They were good players, but there wasn't as much hype around them leaving.
"All of those guys were first-year guys last year. All freshmen and sophomores. It's the same thing now. Cooper is doing a great job of punting, and Jorge and Sam are doing a good job of kicking. Chase is a great long snapper. I feel really good where we're at. We've got to repeat it, and that's the name of the game."
Heimbach looks to be a centerpiece for the specialist group. Hailing from Wheelersburg, Ohio, Heimbach's recruitment profile is of a player capable of doing each role full time — kickoffs, punts and field goals.
"He can do all three," White said. "He's working on kickoff, specifically. He's going to punt for us, obviously. If we need him to, he can be our field goal kicker. He's a very talented guy. He's an athlete, former baseball player and great player."
Heimbach, also a freshman, prides himself on his work to be an impact player at each.
"I did all three aspects and did great," Heimbach said of his high school career. "I appreciate my coaches for believing in me and everything. Here, getting to do these roles early is huge. I've put in the work for this. Lots of training. To be here is special. I want to stay here all of my years. I love it here.
"Coaches want someone who can do it all. I would pride myself in my versatility for field goals, kickoffs and punts. I'm going to continue to be consistent. As of now, I have two jobs, and I'm super excited for everything."
The move to the college game was challenging for Heimbach, but an early arrival helped smooth his progression.
"It's definitely been a learning curve. Getting here early and graduating early was a huge step," Heimbach said. "I had a solid spring, but I learned a lot, grew up quick and have had a good fall so far. I'm heading in the right direction."
Strength has been a progression piece for Heimbach when comparing the spring to fall camp.
"I've gotten so much stronger since being here," Heimbach said. "I've seen it translate on the field right now with my kickoffs and punts. The bigger hits I've had have come from that extra work. We're a good group, and we have good chemistry."
While the boots are new, the gloves return. Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw's return skill is backm alongside a new impact player next to him in Chris Culliver from North Carolina. With the Tar Heels, Culliver returned two kicks for touchdowns.
"We have a really good group of returners," White said. "Zay did a great job last year. ... Two great returners, and we have our punt returners battling right now. They can change the game for us."
Turner-Bradshaw was named to the preseason second-team All-Sun Belt Conference special teams unit. Turner-Bradshaw isn't focused on the awards but is happy to see some come his way in his redshirt senior season.
"This is my first time in college that I'm getting some recognition for the coming year," Turner-Bradshaw said. "I try not to put it all in my head too much. I know what I still have to do."
Scrimmages begin for Marshall on Saturday. It's a key time for the specialists group, as White said he is focused on getting the unit mentally ready by simulating game experience with each of their reps.
"They're doing well. We're getting as many reps as we can in practice live," White said. "My thing is, I want these guys to focus on one rep at a time like a game — run from the sideline onto the field and take their line. We're not doing a lot of non-team stuff. It's all live. They're getting as much game prep as they can."
