NT Position Group Breakdowns: Specialists

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DENTON – The Mean Green specialists have performed very well the past four seasons and have a new man in charge, in special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler. We conclude our series of position group breakdowns with the specialists.
 
"I can't wait to start on the field work with our specialists and our team. After watching winter workouts, I'm confident we have the makings of a great group of specialists. We've got an elite long snapper with Nate [Durham], capable kickers and punters. Special teams has had a great culture the past few years and we will build on that. I love the speed we have and the spirit of our team."
 
Outgoing:
A pair of Mean Green specialists have moved on, in all-conference honorable mention punter Alvin Kenworthy, who graduated, and kicker Mason Reid, who decided to leave the program following the season.
 
Kenworthy averaged 42.0 yards per punt on 124 career attempts with a career-long of 73 in 30 career appearances at North Texas during his time in Denton. As a senior, Kenworthy was one of five team captains and averaged 43.7 yards per attempt on 50 punts. His consistency at the position will certainly be missed in this group.
 
Reid did not appear in any games for the Mean Green after walking on ahead of the 2019 season.
 
New Faces:
There are no new faces with the program in the specialist group heading into 2020, aside from Ekeler, who spent the past two seasons at Kansas in the same role. This marks Ekeler's second stint in Denton under head coach Seth Littrell. Ekeler was the team's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2016, Littrell's first season in Denton.
 
Returners:
#47 Ethan Mooney – kicker – junior – Fort Worth, Texas (Timber Creek HS)
Mooney won the kicking job and had a very strong sophomore season for the Mean Green, earning all-conference honorable mention plaudits from the 14 head coaches of Conference USA. Mooney went 16 for 20 on field goals during his first season as North Texas' placekicker, including a career long of 51 yards at Charlotte, while also converting 43-44 extra points to lead North Texas with 91 points scored. He was also the primary on kickoff, and averaged 52.0 yards per attempt on 41 kickoffs with 10 touchbacks. The Fort Worth native was named the Week 8 C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance in the win over Middle Tennessee, including a game-winning field goal.
 
"Coach Ekeler is an awesome coach. He really cares about having a strong relationship with his players. I think we have some really hard-working guys. We all want to be the best at whatever we do, it's just the culture in that room."

Read more:  https://meangreensports.com/news/2020/4/29/football-position-group-breakdowns-specialists.aspx