Kentucky Football had not one designated Special Teams Coordinator for the 2022 season. That’s important as Special Teams account for 35% of all points scored in a season. It showed as a glaring weakness for Kentucky throughout the 2022 year. Kentucky had five punts blocked in 2022, ranking 125th of 131 FBS Schools. Ironically, punter Colin Goodfellow saved the Missouri Game by retrieving a high snap and punting during a vicious season ending hit. Let’s not begin to count the poor snaps and lost points due to missed kicks.
In the Music City Bowl, Iowa’s average starting field position in the game was its own 35-yard line.The Hawkeyes’ lone touchdown drive started at the Kentucky 42-yard line after a poor punt from Wildcat’s punter Wilson Berry from the shadow of his own end zone.
Kentucky fired running backs/co-Special Teams Coordinator Coach John Settle after a forgettable Special Team season and failing to bring in a single recruit during his tenure.
Enter Jay Boulware, whom Mark Stoops introduced as the new RB’s and Special Teams Coordinator in December. Jay commands the attention of his room, and is a fiery energetic competitor, with over 25 years of Coaching experience. Jay has built success throughout his coaching career, which began at Texas in 1992. In 2021, he mentored Benny Snell with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and may be the reason Benny has carved out a high paying role as a Special Teams player.
Boulware most recently was an Assistant Coach, again, at Texas. During Boulware’s seven seasons at Oklahoma, his special teams units accounted for 10 touchdowns, one safety and three returned two-point attempts. At Oklahoma, Boulware coached 2018 Special Teams Player of the Year Austin Seibert. At Auburn, Boulware 2021 coached Pro Bowl long snapper Josh Harris and Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson. Success has followed Boulware throughout his career.
Personnel changes alone are unlikely to fix Kentucky’s special teams miscues. Boulware will need to bring new schematic wrinkles as well. Kentucky special Teams have struggled since 2019, when Dean Hood left to begin a very successful Head Coaching job at Murray State. Jay Boulware will elevate Kentucky’s Special Teams.
More on Jay Boulware here.
