Special teams return for TD drought

Submitted by g_reaper3 on

Does anyone know if we have the longest stretch in college football without a punt or kick return for a TD?  My understanding is our last was Stonum against ND in 2009.  We had a blocked punt returned slightly more recent but I was wondering about an unblocked punt or kick return.

I want to really understand how historic this will be when Peppers runs one back!

LSAClassOf2000

October 9th, 2015 at 4:06 PM ^

You do recall correctly - that was Joe Reynolds and it was for 30 yards. 

It would be nice to see one take to the house in a more conventional manner, of course, sometime this season. Peppers has seems rather close a few times already this year - hopefully, he gets lucky yet. 

jmblue

October 9th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^

I doubt that's the longest drought.  TDs on kickoff returns are very rare, and punt return TDs aren't particularly common either.

At any rate, Norfleet got robbed of one last year against Maryland due to a illegal block that didn't affect the play.

befuggled

October 9th, 2015 at 7:25 PM ^

They listed the position. Mostly DB and WR, but at least one was a DL.

Unfortunately that still doesn't tell you much, since a DB or WR is likely to be on the punt block team and/or likely to pick up the ball after a block.

Also, I counted 68 punt return TDs last year.

Wolverine Devotee

October 9th, 2015 at 3:51 PM ^

Last punt return for a TD excluding blocks:_ Martavious Odoms at Purdue in 2008

Last kickoff return for a TD: Stonum vs #18 Notre Dame in 2009

Last missed FG returned for a TD: Jeremy LeSueur at #22 Oregon in 2003.

SalvatoreQuattro

October 9th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^

Desmond and Alexander had multiple returns themselves. Wheatley, Woodson, Toomer, and Seth Smith(!) are the others I can name off the top of my head.Alexander ahd four punt returns for a TD by himself. Dez had a punt and kickoff return.

This decade-and-a-half has seen Breaston(3), Stonum,  Odoms,and no one else. I have no idea if this has something to do with poor special teams, lack of explosive athletes, or both.

UMForLife

October 9th, 2015 at 4:33 PM ^

Peppers could have had one, if not for that call for fair catch. I still couldn't see the field fully but it looked like most of the MD players seemed to be on the other side.

Real Tackles Wear 77

October 9th, 2015 at 4:42 PM ^

No way we have the longest drought, I'm sure it's not even close. NFL teams sometimes go decades without a return TD. 

That said, Norfleet returned one vs Maryland last season that was called back because of a penalty that didn't impact the return in any way.

WolverineHistorian

October 9th, 2015 at 4:46 PM ^

Fondly remember Steve Breaston's 95 yard kickoff return for a TD against Minnesota in 2005.  Too bad our D decided to let Maroney scamper down the field so the Gophers could win it with a field goal on the final play. 

Breaston always seemed to have his best performances during soul crushing losses. 

Perkis-Size Me

October 9th, 2015 at 5:12 PM ^

In college football I don't know. I doubt it. There are 120+ teams out there, many of them far, far worse than Michigan.

In the NFL, absolutely no way. The Bucs probably hold that distinction. Took them nearly 30 years to return a kickoff for a TD for the first time in a regular season game.




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