Preseason Notebook: Special Teams

Photo by: Ethan Roy

Football flying into the air after a kick

Photo by: Ethan Roy

Photo by: Ethan Roy

August 24, 2024 | Football

Eagles’ specialists in the spotlight on Saturday

By: Athletic Communications

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Saturday was about the specialists. Looking at each member of the Eagles' special teams unit, Boston College returns most of their production from 2023.

DAY NINETEEN DETAILS
Date: August 24
Location: Chamberlin Field
Weather: 78 and sunny

LONG SNAPPERS

#28 – Jackson Gugni – Graduate – Beverly Hills, Mich.
Jackson Gugni returns to the long-snapper room after playing a role on the Eagles' special teams unit over the last two seasons.

#41 – Liam Conway – Freshman – Sharon, Mass.
Liam Conway arrives at BC after attending Sharon high school in Massachusetts, where he logged 3,500 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in his career as a quarterback.

#46 – Bryant Worrell – Graduate – Dublin, Va.
Bryant Worrell was ranked as the No. 11 long snapper and a five-star long snapper by Kohl's snapping, and arrives as a graduate transfer from Old Dominion to bolster the special teams unit.

#48 – Cooper Crook – Freshman – Knoxville, Va.
Cooper Crook was a two-time all-region selection out of his high school in Tennessee, with zero sacks allowed during his high school career as an offensive lineman. Crook was named to the East Tennessee All-Star game as an offensive lineman and long snapper.

KICKERS/PUNTERS

#30 – Sam Stone – Redshirt Freshman – Austin, Tx.
A kicker, punter and holder, Sam Stone redshirted the 2023 season at BC. He kicked at St. Michae;s Catholic High School is Texas with eight field goals made as a senior.

#35 – Ivan Zivenko – Sophomore – Miami, Fla.
Transfer punter Ivan Zivenko began his career at Bryant University in Rhode Island as a freshman in 2023, but did not see game action.

#43 – Sam Candotti – Junior – Niddrie, Victoria, Australia
A junior out of Australia, Sam Candotti played in all 13 games as a true sophomore in 2023, serving as the Eagles' primary option in a platoon of punters. He logged 32 punts with 14 kicks inside the 20, and produced 15 fair catches to one touchback. In a win at Syracuse, Candotti recorded a season-high 47-yard boot and also converted a fake punt for a first down. Candotti also fulfilled placeholder roles on field goals and PATs.

#95 – Liam Connor – Junior – Leominster, Mass.
A sophomore out of Massachusetts, Liam Connor played all 13 games in 2023 as the Eagles' placekicker, while also taking on kickoff duties for five games. Connor went 11-for-14 on field goal attempts, including 6-for-6 from under 40 yards, and a long of 45 yards. Connor matched his career-high with a key 45-yard field goal in adverse conditions in the Fenway Bowl against SMU.

#99 – Luca Lombardo – Junior – Westport, Conn.
Luca Lombardo transferred in to BC after camp in 2023 and won the kickoff specialist job. He played in each of the first eight games plus the Fenway Bowl. Lombardo took 37 kickoffs, averaging 59.6 yards per attempt to go with 12 touchbacks.