After watching another promising season go up in flames in large part due to special teams failures, the Green Bay Packers took a major step towards fixing the annual problem by hiring well-respected special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. His task? Improving a group that was arguably the worst in football last season.
A coach can only do so much. Even the best teachers need good players. General manager Brian Gutekunst will need to provide an assist for Bisaccia, potentially starting in the 2022 NFL draft.
Here are 40 special teams standouts for the Packers to consider in the draft class:
Note: this list doesn’t include punters or kickers.
D’Marco Jackson, LB, App State
Jackson is coming off a stellar 2021 campaign. He was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after recording 119 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception and five pass deflections. Jackson shined on special teams during his time at App State and the thumping linebacker will likely carve out a role as a special teams ace in the NFL.
“Special teams is a huge part of the game for me,” Jackson said. “It’s vital to setting the tone of the game. I can be a solid four-core special teams guy. I have the skill set to do it all. That’s how I found my way to the field in college. Some may not see it as glorious, but for me it’s a pride thing.”
Grant Morgan, LB, Arkansas
The Arkansas linebacker is going to be more than a special teams standout when all is said and done, but there is no doubt that Morgan will make an immediate impact on special teams as a rookie. Morgan finished his career at Arkansas with over 700 special teams snaps to his name.
“Going into my senior year, I had the third most special team snaps in the nation. So what I would bring is a ton of experience. I would positively impact any team with my special teams attitude.”
Tanner Conner, WR, Idaho State
Connor was a two-sport athlete at Idaho State. On top of being a standout on the gridiron, Connor competed on the Idaho State track team. He showcased that track speed when he ran a 4.37 40-time. Connor has experience playing on special teams and with his speed, he could provide an immediate impact as a gunner.
“I believe I offer a unique skill set for any special teams unit,” Conner said. “I have elite speed to run down on punt or kickoff, but I’m also big and strong enough to hold up and block guys as well.”
Nick Grant, DB, Virginia
Grant played primarily on special teams during his first two years on campus. With his quickness and experience playing on special teams, Grant could provide an immediate impact as a rookie in that phase.
“I have a lot of experience playing on special teams,” Grant said. “That’s been my brand for years at Virginia, even while starting I have been on two or three special team units every year making an impact. I’m just the type of guy that’s willing to make plays there. My coach really emphasized that great players make plays on special teams. Those plays end up being some of the most critical.”
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Nolan Turner, S, Clemson
Turner is the son of the late Kevin Turner, who played eight years in the NFL. Turner started at safety for Clemson the last two seasons and has plenty of special teams experience. As a redshirt freshman, Turner earned two Special Team Player of the week awards. At Clemson’s pro day, Turner clocked a 4.46 40-yard dash time.
Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
Anderson was listed on Bruce Feldman’s Annual Freak’s list for the 2021 season. The versatile defensive back has over 800 special team snaps to his name. As a day three pick, Anderson would provide quality depth in the secondary with his versatility, while providing instant impact on special teams.
Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
Another player that may not fit Green Bay’s size “thresholds,” but there is no denying that Jones is an electric return man. Jones earned accolade after accolade in the AAC for his ability as a return specialist. This past season Jones had four return touchdowns (two kickoff and two punts). He finished his career at Houston with six kickoff return touchdowns and three punt return touchdowns. Jones would bring much needed juice to Green Bay’s return game.
Damarion Williams, CB, Houston
Due to the presence of teammate Marcus Jones, Williams had limited reps as a return man. The JUCO transfer averaged 15.6 yards per punt return (five attempts) and 21 yards per kick return (two attempts) during his Cougar career. Williams is one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL draft and could be a key member on coverage units.
Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
Andersen was the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 2017, after starting games at both running back and linebacker. He then earned first-team all-conference honors the following year after playing quarterback. This past season he was Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year after recording 147 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. Anderson has all the tools to be a team’s starting linebacker. There is little doubt that he could step in on day one and provide an immediate impact on special teams.
Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
There is no doubt that Spector could be a hired gun on special teams his rookie season. The Clemson linebacker has experience playing on special teams and possesses the straight-line speed to be an impact special teams player as a rookie.
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Percy Butler, DB, Louisiana
Butler is a versatile safety with plenty of special teams experience under his belt. Butler was an assassin on LA’s punt coverage team and with his quickness (4.36) there is no reason to think he couldn’t provide an immediate impact as a gunner for an NFL team.
Reed Blankenship, DB, Middle Tennessee State University
Blankenship covers a lot of real estate from his safety position. The athletic safety finished his career as the program’s all-time leading tackler (419 career tackles). As a punt returner, Blankenship averaged nearly 10 yards per return. He has over 400 career special team snaps to his name.
JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska
Domann can line up at linebacker, nickel or even safety. He has that type of versatility. The Nebraska linebacker can also provide an immediate impact on special teams, just like he did during his time in Lincoln. Domann was a special teams demon during his first season as a Husker and has over 500 career snaps on special teams.
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Velus Jones Jr, WR, Tennessee
Jones might be one of the most dynamic return specialists in the 2022 NFL draft. This past season Jones was named Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in the SEC after averaging 27.3 yards per kick return and one return touchdown. The USC transfer also averaged 15.1 yards per punt return.
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Josh Thompson, CB, Texas
Thompson has outside-inside versatility as a cornerback. Thompson is a sound tackler and has good quickness, two things that made him a special teams asset on the punt team for Texas. As a day three selection, Thompson would provide quality depth in the secondary while providing an immediate impact on special teams.
Connor Heyward, TE, Michigan State
The younger brother of Cam Heyward, Connor is going to carve out a role early in his career as a special teamer. The running back turned tight end has experience playing on special teams and while he could provide quality depth to any tight end room, his instinct impact will be on special teams.
Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas
Johnson has juice. At his pro day, Johnson clocked a 4.36 40-time. He is a versatile linebacker that can line up on the edge or play off the ball. The Kansas Jayhawk has over 500 special team snaps to his name and with his world-class speed, he’ll make an immediate impact on coverage units.
Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
McFadden was a 29-game starter for the Hoosiers. McFadden has a high football IQ and a reliable tackler. He has over 300 special team snaps to his name and could provide quality depth at linebacker while providing an immediate impact on special teams.
Brad Hawkins, S, Michigan
Hawkins played exclusively on special teams early in his career at Ann Arbor. That’s something that he’ll have to do early in his career in the NFL to get on the field. He has a high motor and is a sure tackler. He may never be a starter in the NFL, but he could carve out a career as a career special teams standout.
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Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah
Sewell was a special teams standout during his collegiate career. The converted safety recorded 89 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and one interception this past season at Utah. He’s a reliable open-field tackler and has all the tools to be a special teams ace.
Elijah Hicks, DB, Cal
Hicks finished this past season with 72 tackles and three interceptions. Hicks finished his career with 46 career starts and over 400 career snaps on special teams. Hicks would provide quality depth at safety, while providing an immediate impact on special teams.
Drew Hartlaub, S, Penn State
The Penn State gunner ran a 4.22 40-time at Penn State’s pro day. Hartlaub is a priority free agent and may never be anything more than a hired gun on special teams. With that world-class speed, the Penn State defensive back has the ability to run past people as a gunner and with the Packers needing to improve on special teams, he could be worth the look.
Zakoby McClain, LB, Auburn
McClain knows one speed and that’s fast. McClain has a relentless motor and plays with a ton of energy. His speed and effort make him an ideal special teams standout. He has plenty of special teams experience under his belt and will without a doubt provide an impact as a rookie.
Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
Bryant’s biggest impact will be the one he provides as a cornerback. The Jim Thorpe award winner has over 300 special teams snaps to his name. It’s an area where he provided an impact early in his career and if he were to land with the Packers it’s the place where he could provide instant impact while playing behind Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas.
Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee
Taylor was a special teams standout during his time at Tennessee. Taylor is a physical defensive back and is a willing participant in run support. That physicality shows up on special teams coverage units.
Nick Cross, S, Maryland
Cross is an athletic freak. Cross clocked a 4.34 40 at the combine and recorded a vertical of 37 inches. Cross is an explosive player with over 400 career special teams snaps to his name. That experience on special teams easily translates to the next level.
Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
Rodriguez finished his career at Stillwater as a four-year starter with 408 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and two interceptions. Not only was Rodriguez a four-year starter, but he was also a mainstay on Oklahoma State’s special teams unit during his collegiate career.
Darrian Beavers, LB/Edge, Cincinnati
Beavers is an intriguing prospect. He has the versatility to play off the ball or line up on the edge. Wherever he lines up, there is no doubt that Beavers could provide an instant impact on special teams. Beavers has plenty of special team snaps under his belt and finished his career with 230 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks.
Tariq Carpenter, DB, Georgia Tech
Carpenter is listed as a safety, but teams could view him as a dime or nickel linebacker. He is at his best coming downhill. The four-year starter finished his career with 223 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He has experience playing on special teams, where his physical nature really shows up.
Jesse Luketa, Edge/LB, Penn State
Luketa has all the traits to be a special teams demon. He’s physical, quick, and has a motor that’s always running. With over 600 snaps on special teams, Luketa could step in from day one and help any team on special teams.
“It’s an area I know I’ll be able to contribute to immediately,” Luketa said. “With well over 600 snaps under my belt, I’m comfortable in every phase on special teams.”
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Mykael Wright, CB, Oregon
Wright was a dynamic return man during his time at Oregon. With two kickoff return touchdowns to his name, Wright could provide an immediate impact as a return specialist in Green Bay. During his three-year career as a Duck, Wright returned 35 kickoffs and averaged 28.1 yards per return.
Leon O’Neal Jr, S, Texas A&M
O’Neal finished his career at College Station with 32 career starts. Prior to becoming a full-time starter, O’Neal was a special teams standout for Texas A&M. As a freshman in 2018, O’Neal recorded 14 tackles, while playing primarily on special teams.
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Smoke Monday, S, Auburn
With the name Smoke Monday, you better be a special teams standout. Monday has experience playing on special teams. The Auburn safety is a reliable open-field tackler and is at his best playing closer to the line of scrimmage. With his reliability as a tackler, Monday could be a standout on coverage units.
Juanyeh Thomas, S, Georgia Tech
Thomas made an immediate splash during his time at Georgia Tech as a return specialist. As a freshman in 2018, Thomas returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 25.3 yards per return. Thomas has the versatility to play safety, in the slot, as a sub-package linebacker and also brings special teams value with his return ability.
Teagan Quitoriano, TE, Oregon State
Quitorianio was a mainstay on OSU’s special teams coverage units early in his career. He’s a player that’s willing to do the dirty work. He has the quickness and toughness to step in and be a special teams contributor as a rookie.
Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State
Lucas is one of the most seasoned cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Lucas finished his career at Arizona State with 49 career starts and saw plenty of playing time on special teams. Lucas has the football IQ, toughness and quickness to be a special teams standout early in his career.
Dane Belton, DB, Iowa
Belton is a versatile defensive back that is a four-core special teams player. This past season Belton recorded five interceptions and proved to be a playmaker in Iowa’s secondary. With his versatility, Belton could provide an impact in the secondary as a rookie, but he’ll without a doubt make an impact on coverage units with his 4.43 speed.
Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
Tindall runs like a cheetah. The Georgia linebacker clocked a time of 4.47 at the scouting combine. That speed will make him an immediate impact player on special teams. Tindall played in a crowded linebacker room and had over 400 special teams snaps to his name. Tindall has all the tools to be more than a special teams standout, but as a rookie that’s where he could provide an immediate impact.
Jeremiah Gemmel, LB, UNC
Gemmel was a three-year starter for the Tar Heels. He has a nose for the football and finished this past season with 73 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. While he didn’t play a ton on special teams at UNC, that’s the route Gemmel is going to have to go if he wants to make an impact early in his career.
Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin
This past season, the Badger linebacker enjoyed a career year. Sanborn recorded 89 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and five sacks. The Badger linebacker has all the traits to be a hired gun on special teams with his energy, toughness, and closing burst. He has a high motor and could be a mainstay on Green Bay’s special teams early in his career.
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