UAB 2023 position preview: Special Teams

Published Jul. 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m.
By Evan Dudley
The UAB football team returns a single starter on special teams and only one other position is technically up for grabs.
Matt Quinn returns for his final year as placekicker for the Blazers while punting duties will be determined in fall camp following the highly productive and consistent career of Kyle Greenwell.
Departed: Kyle Greenwell
Outlook: As it stands, the Blazer’s special teams unit is set for the season excluding a competition at the punter position. There could be more players added to the group when fall camp opens but there should be no surprises when the season kicks off at the end of August.
Matt Quinn returns for a fourth straight season as UAB’s placekicker and is expected to cap a stellar career on the Southside. The 2022 CUSA Scholar Athlete of the Year has made 36-of-47 field-goal attempts with a career-long of 52 yards and missed only two PATs in 127 attempts.
There is no experience returning at the punter position due to the departure of All-CUSA performer Kyle Greenwell and the role will come down between UAB legacy Caden Long and Arkansas transfer Patrick Foley.
Redshirt sophomore long-snapper Xander Echols signed as a scholarship player in the 2021 class, a position former head coach Bill Clark emphasized during his time with the Blazers, and has a solo lock on the role with transfer Kortlen Wilfawn exiting the program following spring practice.
Battle to WATCH: There’s only one role up for grabs on the special teams unit but unfortunately it was at the punter position with a large void created due to the departure of Kyle Greenwell. Caden Long has been with the program for two years and will compete with Arkansas transfer Patrick Foley for the right to lead the field position battle.
Keep an Eye on: Delange. The walk-on placekicker won’t be required to kick any field goals this season, barring an injury, but could be used on kickoffs as others have in the past. During his prep career at Davidson, Delange was 60-of-61 on extra-point attempts and 8-of-9 on field goals with a long of 45 yards.
Projected depth chart:
(PK) Matt Quinn, Sr*
Jonah Delange, Fr
(P) Caden Long, So*
Patrick Foley, So*
(LS) Xander Echols, So*