When Adam Carlson steps onto the field to kick off for the Bulldogs Thursday night, he’ll be doing it a little further back.
This summer, the NCAA Rules Committee voted to move kickoffs back five yards to the 30-yard line, the same spot as NFL kickoffs.The move is intended to do two things: shorten the length of the average college football game while at the same time not limiting the number of plays each team has during the course of a game.
When kicking from the 35-yard line, many kickers often boot the ball through the end zone, forcing no time off the game clock.
During the 2006 season, the game clock started as soon as the kicker made contact with the ball. However, the amount of time that ran off the clock was cutting the number of actual football plays, which drew criticism from many coaches.
Pushing kickoffs back five yards was a way of appeasing both NCAA officials and college coaches. The normal three-hour game will be reduced, while coaches get back the 10 to 12 plays they lost a season ago.
While the change may seem small to the average fan, MSU special teams coach Reed Stringer said it’s going to have a strong impact on the game.
“It’s going to affect everyone in the country a little bit, especially the Auburn’s and Tennessee’s in football,” Stringer said. “They were putting the ball nine to 10 yards deep in the end zone every play.”
Last season, Mississippi State was ranked third-worst in the SEC with only nine touchbacks. Auburn kicked the most touchbacks in the conference with 51. The Bulldogs finished dead last in kickoff yardage with an average of only 36.5 yards per kick.
Stringer said that while the numbers may have not been great, there still remains a silver lining.
“Some teams haven’t had to cover a kick in two years or so,” he said. “Last year we didn’t have many touchbacks, so we’re used to covering kickoffs.”
Stringer, who is in his first season as special teams coordinator after serving as a graduate assistant for two years on head coach Sylvester Croom’s staff, said place-kicker Adam Carlson has been adjusting well to the new change.
“Adam has been kicking the ball extremely well. He’s been able to get some balls in the end zone and about the one yard line,” Stringer said. “He’s been very responsive in what we’ve asked him to do.”
Carlson, a junior banking and finance major from Gulfport, will have to perform well Thursday against the Louisiana State Tigers.
LSU ranked seventh in the league in kick return average, with 20.2 yards per return.
While last season may not have been the best for Carlson, he said he’s motivated and ready for the season.
“This summer, I’ve improved my leg strength and my confidence,” he said. “Last season as I got more kicks, I became more confident, which helped me in the off-season just knowing I can do it.”
Carlson, who also went 6-for-12 in field goals last season, said it takes time to get accustomed to the speed of the game, even as a place-kicker.
“When you’re young in this league, it takes time to get used to it,” he said. “I’d say it takes a year or so. The game is faster, and there is more pressure on you, and that takes growing in to.”
With kickoffs now at the 30-yard line, the receiving team will get great field position, and Croom said he plans on taking full advantage.
“In all likelihood, other than inclement weather, there is nothing that is going to make me change from taking the football if we win the toss,” Croom said.
The downside to the change is that many teams will be forced to play their first and second string players on special teams for their tackling and cover skills, which heightens the risk of injury. With players running full-speed at each other from 50 yards apart, the collisions could be unnerving.
“There is no question, you’re going to get more people hurt, but with the way the rules are now you have to have your best players on special teams,” Croom said.
For fans, the rule change will bring excitement to the game. A kick return, whether it is for five yards or taken back for a touchdown, is one of the most exciting plays in college football.
“It’s really going to create more offense, which is exciting for the fans,” Carlson said. “It’s also going to give people a chance to see what the coverage and return game is all about.”
Just how much more exciting will games be as a result of the new rule?
“In the past people thought kickoffs is when they could go to the bathroom; they won’t now,” Croom said with a smile.

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Andrew Le

Junior place-kicker Adam Carlson practices the kickoff during an MSU football practice. The NCAA has elected to move kickoffs back five yards this season.