Carson-Newman Football Position Previews: The Specialists
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the fourth part in a nine-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2025 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles' specialists with assistance from special teams coordinator Edgar Weiser.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the fourth part in a nine-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2025 season. This feature breaks down the Eagles' specialists with assistance from special teams coordinator Edgar Weiser.
Carson-Newman must deal with the departure of four-year longsnapper starter Andrew Bradshaw. The 2024 SAC Football Scholar Athlete of the Year. Bradshaw received postseason honors from the league office for his play at longsnapper at the end of his freshman, sophomore and senior seasons. He finished his career with All-Mountain Division honors. Carson-Newman didn't have any punts blocked this season thanks to Bradshaw's longsnapping prowess. In 41 career games, Bradshaw has only seen two punts or kicks blocked and those attempts were both 50-plus, line-drive field goals that ricocheted off the line seeking extra distance.
In his stead, the Eagles turn to McNeese State transfer Brendon Shoaf.
"He played a little bit last year there and came in mid-year," Weiser said. "That was one of our priorities in recruiting. Once our season got done and our playoff game was over, we knew we a very good deep snapper in Andrew Bradshaw and we needed to replace him. Brendon had a great spring and so far is off to a great start in fall camp."
However, it goes beyond Shoaf. Cam Williams started in Bradshaw's stead in the SAC title game at Wingate last season when the latter was out with an injury. He was perfect on snaps against the Bulldogs.
While who snaps the ball is unknown, Carson-Newman has plenty of experience back in who will be doing the kicking and punting.
Punter Grayson Campbell was the only special teams player included on the SAC's preseason players to watch list. While kicker Bennett Smith earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors once last season.
Grayson, he had some accolades last year and has had some so far in this preseason," Weiser said. "He works very hard and is well conditioned. It's very important to him and he knows how much his team's counting on him. His work ethic and production mirror that. He's always in my office talking to me about what he can do to get better and loves being part of the team and loves improving."
Campell finished second in the SAC in punting, averaging 42.5 yards per boot. He pinned 14 of his 40 punts inside the 20 to finish second in the league in that regard. Campbell had seven punts longer than 50 yards and a long of 69 yards that forced overtime against Wingate on Sept. 21.
"Our head of strength and conditioning, Jeff Boschman, does a great job with our players and you can see a big transformation in a lot of the guys that are returned - Bennett's one of those guys that sticks out," Weiser said. "He's stronger, he's more confident and we're expecting big things from him this year.
Smith connected on 9-of-14 field goals on the year with a long of 45 coming in the SAC title game at Wingate. He earned SAC Player of the Week honors after drilling a game-winning field goal in overtime in a 31-28 overtime win over Wingate (Sept. 21) in the SAC opener. Smith booted a 34-yard field goal, one of three he connected on the day, to help the Eagles triumph over No. 23 Wingate. Smith's kick is the first game-winning kick by a C-N kicker since Christian Erwin's 44-yarder against UVA Wise in the spring CoVID season in 2021. Smith is also the first Eagle kicker since Erwin's day against the Highland Cavaliers to connect on three or more field goals in a game. Smith also drilled field goals from 38 and 37 yards, in addition to his game-winning kick. He was also true on two extra point attempts. Smith was the Eagles' leading scorer for 2024 with 66 points scored.
Carson-Newman also has kicking experience in Ryder Lawson and Travis Arrington.
Lawson appeared in four games, exclusively kicking off for C-N. Three of his 18 kickoffs were touchbacks. Meanwhile, Arrington saw action on one kickoff at Tusculum.
Carson-Newman football's position previews continue Thursday with the safeties.
