Special teams are extremely important to Coach Bustle and the Cajuns put in a lot of time during the spring working on their FG/PAT block and their punt block/return.

The work has always paid off under Bustle, as the Cajuns have blocked 35 kicks since 2002 – the third most in the nation.

After losing All-Sun Belt kicker Drew Edmiston, the team auditioned junior Tyler Albrecht and redshirt freshman Brett Baer all spring. It was a neck-and-neck race that will come down to fall camp. Neither kicker has ever attempted a field goal at the college level. The hot hand (or foot) in the fall will likely win the job.

Neither Albrecht nor Baer has an edge in handling kickoff duties, so expect another fall camp battle.

Junior punter Spencer Ortego is entrenched as the Cajuns punter.

The Cajuns unusual punting style sometimes limits Ortego’s kicking distance, but the results are evident. While fifth in the conference in punting average, the Cajuns were second in net punts, meaning Ortego is placing the ball to limit a return. More than half of his punts (28 of 48) were not returned, including 12 placed inside the 20-yard line. The longest return allowed by Ortego was just 16 yards.

Look for the team to decide its kick and punt return duties in the fall.

UL SI