In recent years Dino's staff would use walk-ons on special teams (AJ Calabro, Ryan Dolan, Josh Kabula and Tommy Porter), but this year during the spring game Coach Vollono was using plenty of starters on special teams. I did hear Coach Fran say Josh Kabula (6'2", 229) is expected to play on all four special teams: kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return. but other than Kabula it is going to be very challenging for other walk-ons to get on the field in 2024.
Our roster is deeper than it has been in recent years so it will be interesting to see how things develop.
In the past, teams used to want to redshirt younger players so they could develop. But nowadays with the portal younger player may not want to redshirt and could start looking towards the portal if they feel they should be playing even if they are freshmen. Coaches now have to even recruit players who are on their roster, so special team could be a place to get younger players on the field early.
IMO our kickoff team could probably be a place for walk-ons to get on the field. Brady Denaburg put 90% of his kickoff in the endzone last year. Why have a starter run a 50-yard sprint to only see the ball go unreturned?
