The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536961
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ❱ ❱ ❱ SPECIAL TEAMS EXPECTATIONS ON THE RISE BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN N C State's special teams have typically been among the more consistent groups on the roster throughout head coach Dave Doeren's tenure in Raleigh. The Wolfpack has produced a pair of NFL punters in AJ Cole and Trenton Gill, while placekicker Christopher Dunn won the Lou Groza Award in 2022 and long snapper Joe Shimko claimed the Patrick Mannelly Award the following year, honors that marked the two specialists as the best at their respective positions. Special teams coordinator Todd Goeb- bel trusts his specialists to do their jobs at an elite level, and that's no different this season with the Wolfpack returning several starters. Redshirt senior punter Caden Noonkester headlines the unit. Entering his third season as a starter, Noonkester is com- ing off a 2024 season in which he ranked 31st in the FBS with an average of 43.6 yards per attempt. Elsewhere, redshirt junior placekicker Kanoah Vinesett is looking to build on his first year as the Wolfpack's starter. Vinesett, a Rock Hill, S.C., native, battled his way to a schol- arship last spring. Although he waited his turn for an opportu- nity to attempt a field goal — he logged just 1 extra point in his first two seasons on the roster — Vinesett was fairly accurate during his debut campaign. The right-footed kicker was good on 18 of 24 field goal attempts, including a 14-for-16 performance from inside 40 yards. In addition, he was perfect on his 34 PAT tries. The punter and place- kicker positions aren't a mystery entering the sea- son, but there's going to be a battle for the long snapper role. Redshirt sophomore Aiden Arias (field goals) and redshirt senior Jake Mann (punts) both saw action last season, and they will likely compete for the starting job yet again this year. With the Wolfpack inch- ing closer to the season, the coaches expect their special teams units to be among the ACC's best. If the specialists can grow from last year's showing, NC State could be in line to do just that. BY THE NUMBERS 7 Punts that Caden Noonkester landed inside the 20-yard line against Northern Illinois last season. 42.9 Noonkester's career punting average, which ranks third in program history. 156 Kanoah Vinesett's point total last season, 10th- best in the ACC. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★½ Caden Noonkester is back for his third season as the Wolfpack's starting punter. He posted 14 punts of 50-plus yards a year ago, including 4 against Northern Illinois alone. Kanoah Vinesett enters his second season as the Pack's primary placekicker. He was consistent inside 40 yards a year ago, going 14 for 16. NC State used Aiden Arias and Jake Mann at long snapper last season, and the two are set to compete in fall camp. EXPERIENCE ★★½ NC State has more experience than it did a year ago. Its projected starting special- ists all were first-team players last season. Vinesett hadn't attempted a collegiate field goal prior to last fall, but he was mostly accurate in 2024. The Pack hopes that experience helps him take another step forward in 2025. DEPTH ★½ NC State boasts experienced depth at long snapper, with Arias and Mann having split duties last fall. However, other than the two starters, the Pack does not have a punter or kicker with college experience. OVERALL GRADE ★★ The Wolfpack has high expectations for its special teams unit every season, and this year is no different. Noonkester has the skill set to be the next elite punter to come out of NC State's program, while Vinesett could take a step forward from last year with longer-range kicks. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Pos. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 98 P Caden Noonkester R-Sr. 6-6 220 Waxhaw, N.C. 92 LS Aiden Arias R-So. 6-0 213 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 94 PK Kanoah Vinesett R-Jr. 6-1 207 Rock Hill, S.C. WAITING IN THE WINGS 96 P Owen Fehr R-So. 5-11 175 Cornelius, N.C. 95 LS Jake Mann R-Sr. 5-10 232 Chapel Hill, N.C. 84 PK Charlie Birtwistle R-Fr. 5-11 206 Belmont, N.C. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT PLAYER REDSHIRT JUNIOR PLACEKICKER KANOAH VINESETT Special teams coordinator Todd Goebbel calls Vinesett "the Freddie Couples of kickers." Vinesett's right leg moves effortlessly as he swings through the ball, allowing for a consistent stroke that NC State knows will be reliable — just like the 1992 Masters champion's golf swing. "He's a guy that does a really good job with his routine," NC State coach Dave Doeren said. "He's the same guy every day. He's got a smooth swing. … He's got a really nice leg swing that's consistent that he can repeat, repeat, repeat." Vinesett put that repeatable swinging motion on full display with 4 made field goal attempts against Duke last season, a total that tied NC State's single-game program record. He connected from 25, 28, 30 and 37 yards to supply 12 of the Wolfpack's 19 points in the defeat. KANOAH VINESETT