BEAUMONT, Texas – There are three parts to a football game – offense, defense and special teams. At times overlooked by fans, but if a team struggles in any area of special teams play no one will underestimate their importance. With the amount of inexperienced players on the 2016 Lamar University football roster, it is a different story on special teams. The Cardinals return four of six starters from last season, with the only two positions without a returning starter being deep snapper and punt returner.
 
"We have a lot of guys coming back," said special teams' coordinator Brian Morgan. "Even at punt return where we lost our starter, the position will be filled by veteran players. That makes you feel a little easier as a coach."
 
The headliner of the group is first-team preseason all-conference selection Rodney Randle. The Beaumont native electrified crowds last season with his long kick returns. Randle returned 26 kicks for 635 yards (24.4 ypr) and was one of only three players in the Southland Conference to return a kick for a score last season.
 
Another member of the LU secondary that should play an integral role in returns is senior Brendan Langley. Although the former Georgia transfer didn't return a punt last season, he proved his explosive skills at Incarnate Word. UIW's version of the Cardinals were driving late in the contest when Langley picked off a pass on his own 14 yard line and took it the distance for the score. The play changed the momentum of the game as Big Red went on to hand UIW its only home loss of the season.
 
"Both of those guys are very explosive and confident," said Morgan. "Once we get the ball in our playmakers hands it makes me look like a much better coach."
 
The Cardinals also return a kicker with one of the strongest legs in the nation. One of the program's most consistent kickers, Ball already owns the school record for consecutive made extra points. Although he's never had the opportunity during a game – and rare is the occasion that any kicker will get the opportunity – but Ball put his powerful leg on display during practice last season when he lined a kick up from 67 yards out and booted it over the crossbar with a couple of yards to spare.
 
"I believe we have the best returning kicker in the Southland," said Morgan. "He has converted 13 of 16 field goal attempts during his career and has never missed a PAT. He also is a solid, strong-legged kid on kickoffs as well. We have a lot of confidence in him."
 
Ball has connected on 77 percent of his field goal attempts, and is a perfect 72-of-72 on PATs. He finished fourth in the conference this past season in scoring, and set the program's second-best single-season scoring record with 82 points in 2015 – Ball was second only to teammate Kade Harrington who led the nation with 21 rushing touchdowns. The California native enters his final season ranked 13^th all-time at LU with 123 points.
 
Another of those veterans on special teams is punter Juan Carranco. The Dayton, Texas native has served as the team's starting punter each of the past two seasons, while also sharing some of the kicking responsibilities during that time. Carranco averaged just under 40 yards per punt last season, but recorded five punts of 50 yards or more, including a long of 64 yards. He also downed 12 punts inside the opponents 20 yard line.

"Juan really buys in to what we try to do scheme wise," said Morgan. "We ask him to do some things that benefits the team overall, but at times could hurt his overall numbers. He does what he is asked and completely takes ego out of the equation. He puts the team first above himself."
 
Carranco also returns as the team's holder for the 2016 season.
 
Over the course of the first six years of the program the Cardinals have been fortunate to only have had two deep snappers, including one All-American at the position. What should be taken from that number is deep snapper is a position that the LU coaching staff has not had to worry about during that stretch.
 
Former Cardinal Chris Maikranz held the position for the first four seasons of the program's return, while junior college transfer Brent Nicholson was the starter for the past two. The coaching staff believes they have the next player who will continue that tradition of consistency – Zach Roberts (6-1, 203, Magnolia, Texas). Roberts was part of the same recruiting class that included Nicholson, so Roberts has been able to work on his craft from the sideline for last two seasons while waiting for his shot.
 
"Zach has been here for a couple years and proved to everyone that he won the job," said Morgan. "Although he hasn't played yet, he's an older guy which gives you a little more confidence. He's worked real hard in practice and the weight room and we have confidence in his ability. Zach comes in here following two guys that you never needed to worry about and he has that same attitude toward snapping the ball."
 
The Cardinals also added a deep snapper during the 2016 signing class – Christian Langston. If the name sounds familiar to Cardinals fans it should, for two separate reasons. Not only is Langston (6-2, 198, Port Neches, Texas) the son of LU offensive coordinator Chuck Langston, but he also was a local standout at Port Neches-Groves High School.
 
The Cardinals step on the field Saturday evening for their 2016 season opener against No. 16 Coastal Carolina. The game against the Chanticleers is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium.
 
-LU CARDINALS-