Texas football rolls into 2026 with a massive question mark hovering over its special teams. The 2024 campaign left plenty to be desired - a 58th-place national ranking in field goal percentage and an 88th-place mark in kickoff coverage will do that. The Longhorns knew change wasn't optional. With longtime kicker Bert Auburn and punter Isaac Pearson gone, the program's hand was forced. Enter Jeff Banks, the new special teams coordinator with a proven track record of rebuilding specialist rooms from scratch. This isn't a tweak. It's a full-blown renovation, and the pressure to get it right is mounting as SEC play looms.
Banks arrived in Austin with a reputation forged in Tuscaloosa, where he turned Alabama's special teams into a national juggernaut. His philosophy is simple: specialists aren't an afterthought - they're a competitive weapon. That mindset has already shifted the culture in Austin. Practices that once treated kicking drills as an afterthought now feature dedicated periods with live rush simulations and pressure-packed scenarios. The Longhorns are treating this unit like a starting position group, not a side quest. The expectation is clear: special teams will win games, not lose them.
📊 88th in kickoff coverage (22.4 yards allowed per return) - That's a field-position nightmare waiting to happen in hostile SEC stadiums.
The New-Look Kicking Room: Will Stone’s Moment
The spotlight burns brightest on Will Stone. The redshirt junior returns as the de facto starter, but his 2024 numbers - 12-of-17 on field goals, a 70.6% clip - left fans wanting more. To his credit, Stone was flawless on extra points (44-of-44). The long-range consistency, though, has been the nagging issue. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has publicly noted Stone "taken a step forward" in camp. The real test, however, comes when the lights are brightest. Bert Auburn's critical miss against Georgia in the SEC Championship still lingers in memory. The coaching staff has drawn a line: mediocrity is no longer acceptable. Stone has the leg - he's connected from 55 yards - but delivery when it matters most is the missing piece.
| Season | FG Made | FG Attempted | FG% | Extra Points | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 13 | 17 | 76.5% | 44 | 55 |
| 2024 | 12 | 17 | 70.6% | 44 | 52 |
The mental side is where Stone has reportedly made his biggest leap. Banks has installed a "pressure period" in practice where Stone must convert kicks with the defense storming in, music blaring, the entire team watching. It's chaos simulation - designed to replicate a game-deciding attempt in front of 100,000 hostile fans. Stone has answered the bell so far. But as Sarkisian famously says, "Practice doesn't win championships - execution does."
The Punter Battle: Experience vs. Upside
The punting battle is the most intriguing competition in camp. Graduate transfer Michael Kern arrives from Rice with a solid resume: a 44.7-yard average and 18 punts downed inside the 20 in 2024. He's the safe, steady presence. But true freshman Charlie Ferris, an early enrollee, is pushing hard. Ferris has flashed elite leg talent and the kind of ceiling that could make him a multi-year starter. Sarkisian has been non-committal, listing both on the depth chart with an "OR" designation. The decision likely comes down to practice consistency and how each handles live-rep pressure. Expect Kern to grab the Week 1 nod. But Ferris is the future - and patience may not be his strength.
📊 44.7-yard punting average (Kern at Rice, 2024) - That would've ranked 30th nationally last season and instantly upgrades Texas' field-flipping ability.
| Player | Class | 2024 Avg | Inside 20 | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Kern | Grad Transfer | 44.7 | 18 | 2 seasons (Rice) |
| Charlie Ferris | Freshman | N/A | N/A | High school (early enrollee) |
The Coverage Fix: Special Teams’ Biggest Weakness
It's not just the kickers who need work. Texas surrendered 22.4 yards per kickoff return in 2024 - a number that ranked 88th nationally. That's a disaster waiting to happen in close SEC games. Jeff Banks has prioritized overhauling the coverage units, injecting more speed and physicality into the gunner spots. The return game has also drawn heavy emphasis, with an eye toward manufacturing more explosive plays. Special teams isn't just about the foot. It's about the 11 guys sprinting downfield in unison. If Texas can't fix this, no amount of kicking accuracy will save them.
