Specialists Focus on Consistency as New Faces Integrate Into Unit
4/3/2026 2:30:00 PM | Football
STATESBORO – For Georgia Southern's specialists, spring practice has become less about immediate performance and more about development, consistency and building the foundation needed to peak when the season arrives. Punter Alex Smith and kicker Tripp Bryant offered insight into their spring training routines and development.
In his first spring as a true freshman, Bryant reflected on the adjustment of navigating a roster that feels familiar, yet new.
"It's a weird time because you get so close with everyone from the past season," Bryant said. "Then you come back after a few weeks off, and it's almost a completely new team. So it's really about connecting with the new guys, learning their stories and building those relationships. I think we did a great job early on, especially during winter conditioning, of laying the foundation for our culture and bringing everyone together. It's also kind of eye-opening – you go from being one of the younger guys to seeing how quickly new players come in and compete for the same roles you're working toward."
Losing a veteran presence in long snapper Jackson Wheeler, the Eagles added two new pieces to their special teams room in Blake Ford from Arkansas and Chason Glenn from Georgia Military.
"It's always good to have new guys come in and see what they bring to the table, and then find ways to mesh with them," Bryant said. "Chason and Blake have been great additions, and they're already taking steps within our process. It's been really about getting them comfortable, helping them understand how we do things and guiding them in the right direction."
"They've settled in really well," Smith said. "Blake's super talented, and it's been fun to watch him do his thing, while Chason has been unreal at snapping. It'll be exciting to see him and Gavin (Kurpis) compete for the starting job. Overall, we're a really close group and trending in the right direction."
Now, being the most veteran player in the room, Smith has seen the complete cycle of his career – once the newcomer and now the leader.
"It's incredibly strange to be sitting here four years later as the most senior guy in the group," Smith said. "It feels like just yesterday I was the newcomer in the spring of 2023. Now, being looked at as a leader comes with a huge responsibility – not just to make these guys better players, but to help instill values and set the standard."
In the fall of 2025, Bryant stepped into the role of starting kicker as a true freshman and handled the opportunity in stride, quickly earning the respect of those around him.
Time and again, Smith has watched Bryant carry himself with a level of composure well beyond his years.
"One thing that surprised me about Tripp when he came in is how composed he is for an 18-year-old," Smith said. "I remember asking if he was nervous lining up for his first kick, and he just said, 'No, I'm all good.' Meanwhile, I think back to my first time out there at 23, and I was, for lack of a better word, freaking out. He's incredibly mature for his age, and I haven't seen much drop-off at all. He's clearly ready for the next level, and it's been awesome to watch his growth."
The specialists have approached spring training differently than in years past, placing less emphasis on kicking form and more focus on strength training.
"In the past, we'd go really hard with kicking and in the weight room, almost trying to simulate fall camp or in-season conditions. But for specialists, it's not really like that; it has to be more of a slow build. Over the last year, especially now, we've put more emphasis on keeping our bodies in the best shape possible during the spring – prioritizing mobility, power and strength over just kicking form. Then, as we move into fall camp, the goal is to really be peaking at that point."
"One thing I really wanted to focus on was adding weight," Bryant said. "When I got here last May, I was a little undersized and not as strong as I needed to be. I've been able to put on about 15 pounds, so now it's just about continuing to build leg strength and overall power so I can produce at a higher level."
The specialists' focus throughout the spring has centered on building consistency, confidence and repeatable execution through quality reps. Bryant developed much of his approach by observing the routines of Wheeler and Smith.
"One thing I'd point to is the confidence and trust they have in doing their job," Bryant said. "That comes not just from practice, but from going out and executing in games. For us as specialists, repeatability is everything – being able to do the same thing at a high level over and over again. So it's really about how many quality reps we can get in practice, so that when it's time to perform in a game, it becomes second nature and we can go out and do it again."
As the Blue-White Spring Game, presented by Morris Bank, Southern Exchange, and Savannah/Hilton Head International, nears on April 4 (11:30 a.m.), the Eagles view it as a step in the process rather than a defining moment in their spring development.
"It's a nice little taste of the season," Smith said. "It's good to simulate game-like conditions and do our part for the team. At the same time, it's not a critical stage of the year for us – it's more of a step in the process. We're still building and developing right now; we're not at our peak yet."
In his first spring as a true freshman, Bryant reflected on the adjustment of navigating a roster that feels familiar, yet new.
"It's a weird time because you get so close with everyone from the past season," Bryant said. "Then you come back after a few weeks off, and it's almost a completely new team. So it's really about connecting with the new guys, learning their stories and building those relationships. I think we did a great job early on, especially during winter conditioning, of laying the foundation for our culture and bringing everyone together. It's also kind of eye-opening – you go from being one of the younger guys to seeing how quickly new players come in and compete for the same roles you're working toward."
Losing a veteran presence in long snapper Jackson Wheeler, the Eagles added two new pieces to their special teams room in Blake Ford from Arkansas and Chason Glenn from Georgia Military.
"It's always good to have new guys come in and see what they bring to the table, and then find ways to mesh with them," Bryant said. "Chason and Blake have been great additions, and they're already taking steps within our process. It's been really about getting them comfortable, helping them understand how we do things and guiding them in the right direction."
"They've settled in really well," Smith said. "Blake's super talented, and it's been fun to watch him do his thing, while Chason has been unreal at snapping. It'll be exciting to see him and Gavin (Kurpis) compete for the starting job. Overall, we're a really close group and trending in the right direction."
Now, being the most veteran player in the room, Smith has seen the complete cycle of his career – once the newcomer and now the leader.
"It's incredibly strange to be sitting here four years later as the most senior guy in the group," Smith said. "It feels like just yesterday I was the newcomer in the spring of 2023. Now, being looked at as a leader comes with a huge responsibility – not just to make these guys better players, but to help instill values and set the standard."
In the fall of 2025, Bryant stepped into the role of starting kicker as a true freshman and handled the opportunity in stride, quickly earning the respect of those around him.
Time and again, Smith has watched Bryant carry himself with a level of composure well beyond his years.
"One thing that surprised me about Tripp when he came in is how composed he is for an 18-year-old," Smith said. "I remember asking if he was nervous lining up for his first kick, and he just said, 'No, I'm all good.' Meanwhile, I think back to my first time out there at 23, and I was, for lack of a better word, freaking out. He's incredibly mature for his age, and I haven't seen much drop-off at all. He's clearly ready for the next level, and it's been awesome to watch his growth."
The specialists have approached spring training differently than in years past, placing less emphasis on kicking form and more focus on strength training.
"In the past, we'd go really hard with kicking and in the weight room, almost trying to simulate fall camp or in-season conditions. But for specialists, it's not really like that; it has to be more of a slow build. Over the last year, especially now, we've put more emphasis on keeping our bodies in the best shape possible during the spring – prioritizing mobility, power and strength over just kicking form. Then, as we move into fall camp, the goal is to really be peaking at that point."
"One thing I really wanted to focus on was adding weight," Bryant said. "When I got here last May, I was a little undersized and not as strong as I needed to be. I've been able to put on about 15 pounds, so now it's just about continuing to build leg strength and overall power so I can produce at a higher level."
The specialists' focus throughout the spring has centered on building consistency, confidence and repeatable execution through quality reps. Bryant developed much of his approach by observing the routines of Wheeler and Smith.
"One thing I'd point to is the confidence and trust they have in doing their job," Bryant said. "That comes not just from practice, but from going out and executing in games. For us as specialists, repeatability is everything – being able to do the same thing at a high level over and over again. So it's really about how many quality reps we can get in practice, so that when it's time to perform in a game, it becomes second nature and we can go out and do it again."
As the Blue-White Spring Game, presented by Morris Bank, Southern Exchange, and Savannah/Hilton Head International, nears on April 4 (11:30 a.m.), the Eagles view it as a step in the process rather than a defining moment in their spring development.
"It's a nice little taste of the season," Smith said. "It's good to simulate game-like conditions and do our part for the team. At the same time, it's not a critical stage of the year for us – it's more of a step in the process. We're still building and developing right now; we're not at our peak yet."
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