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Sophomore Zach Feagles was the Canes primary punter last season in his first year on the team, however, his performance could be best described as “up-and-down”. Without another scholarship punter on the roster, Feagles was forced to work through his freshmen growing pains in front of a live audience instead of behind closed doors.
“As a freshman, definitely room to improve,” Feagles said of his rookie year. “I was young, a typical freshman. Sometimes you’ll throw a freshman in there and he’ll do great things and have a bunch of hype around them. And maybe you’ll have a freshman that won’t do good things.
“I would have a good punt, then some bad punts, then a good punt. I’m trying to eliminate the bad punts. So, I definitely have room for improvement, and I think I’ve made a lot of improvement this year. It’s great to see it through.”
After recording 38.6 yards per punt in 2017, good for last in the ACC, Feagles is looking for more consistency in his second season. With his rookie season in the rear view mirror, Feagles views it as a learning experience that was necessary for his growth and it fueled his improvement in the off-season.
“It’s just the consistency off the field,” Feagles said on his improvement. “Just maturing as a person and a football player. Getting used to the routine and the schedule and what I’m doing. I’ve done that now and I’m excited to see how it translates to the season.”
Has he watched the negative yard punt against Duke on film yet, or too soon?
“(Laughs) Yeah, we all watched it a little bit in the team meeting room, had a good laugh at my expense.”
Being a legacy recruit to UM, most know of Feagles’ famous father, Jeff Feagles. Jeff was a star punter at UM in the mid-80’s before going onto a remarkable 22 year NFL career, complete with two Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl victory with the New York Giants. The older Feagles has been a great resource to Zach as he attempts to keep developing his game.
“He’s had some down parts earlier on in his career too and he’s great when I can come to him and ask about that stuff,” Feagles said on his father. “He’ll give me advice. Mainly how to stay in a routine and to not get down on yourself. He’s just a good person to have, when you’re not doing well and when you are doing well.”
In terms of scholarship special teamers, Feagles is now essentially the veteran of the group with kicker Michael Badgley off to the NFL. In Badgley’s place is true freshmen Bubba Baxa, and Feagles lets Baxa know what it’s like to be in those pressure moments.
“I could see some of myself in him right now, and that’s just being a typical freshman,” Feagles said on Baxa. “He has a lot to get used to. I just tell him stuff like, ‘Don’t get too much in your head.’ I know a lot of people will come up to you and get in your ear about certain things. Sometimes you have to zone them out and sometimes you have to acknowledge what they’re saying. For the most part, you just have to stay focused and don’t let the game get too fast for you. Just stay calm and everything else will pan out from there.”
Special Teams coordinator Tood Hartley is Feagles’ coach at UM and the pair have a close relationship.
“Yeah he’s a great dude, one of my favorite coaches ever honestly,” Feagles said on Hartley. “He’s a real person. He wants the best for his kids. He treats us as if we were his own kids. He wants to better you as a person, not only as a football player, and that’s one of the best things about him.”
The Canes kick off their season on Sunday and will take on the #25 ranked LSU Tigers in Arlington, Texas. Feagles sees LSU as a tough out and gave his thoughts on what to expect in the opener.
“It’s motivation, obviously playing in that stadium is going to be a crazy atmosphere,” Feagles said. “They’re a good team. They’re not in our conference, so it’s not something we’re used to seeing. We know they’re going to be ready, they’re an SEC school, so we don’t expect anything less.”
“As a freshman, definitely room to improve,” Feagles said of his rookie year. “I was young, a typical freshman. Sometimes you’ll throw a freshman in there and he’ll do great things and have a bunch of hype around them. And maybe you’ll have a freshman that won’t do good things.
“I would have a good punt, then some bad punts, then a good punt. I’m trying to eliminate the bad punts. So, I definitely have room for improvement, and I think I’ve made a lot of improvement this year. It’s great to see it through.”
After recording 38.6 yards per punt in 2017, good for last in the ACC, Feagles is looking for more consistency in his second season. With his rookie season in the rear view mirror, Feagles views it as a learning experience that was necessary for his growth and it fueled his improvement in the off-season.
“It’s just the consistency off the field,” Feagles said on his improvement. “Just maturing as a person and a football player. Getting used to the routine and the schedule and what I’m doing. I’ve done that now and I’m excited to see how it translates to the season.”
Has he watched the negative yard punt against Duke on film yet, or too soon?
“(Laughs) Yeah, we all watched it a little bit in the team meeting room, had a good laugh at my expense.”
Being a legacy recruit to UM, most know of Feagles’ famous father, Jeff Feagles. Jeff was a star punter at UM in the mid-80’s before going onto a remarkable 22 year NFL career, complete with two Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl victory with the New York Giants. The older Feagles has been a great resource to Zach as he attempts to keep developing his game.
“He’s had some down parts earlier on in his career too and he’s great when I can come to him and ask about that stuff,” Feagles said on his father. “He’ll give me advice. Mainly how to stay in a routine and to not get down on yourself. He’s just a good person to have, when you’re not doing well and when you are doing well.”
In terms of scholarship special teamers, Feagles is now essentially the veteran of the group with kicker Michael Badgley off to the NFL. In Badgley’s place is true freshmen Bubba Baxa, and Feagles lets Baxa know what it’s like to be in those pressure moments.
“I could see some of myself in him right now, and that’s just being a typical freshman,” Feagles said on Baxa. “He has a lot to get used to. I just tell him stuff like, ‘Don’t get too much in your head.’ I know a lot of people will come up to you and get in your ear about certain things. Sometimes you have to zone them out and sometimes you have to acknowledge what they’re saying. For the most part, you just have to stay focused and don’t let the game get too fast for you. Just stay calm and everything else will pan out from there.”
Special Teams coordinator Tood Hartley is Feagles’ coach at UM and the pair have a close relationship.
“Yeah he’s a great dude, one of my favorite coaches ever honestly,” Feagles said on Hartley. “He’s a real person. He wants the best for his kids. He treats us as if we were his own kids. He wants to better you as a person, not only as a football player, and that’s one of the best things about him.”
The Canes kick off their season on Sunday and will take on the #25 ranked LSU Tigers in Arlington, Texas. Feagles sees LSU as a tough out and gave his thoughts on what to expect in the opener.
“It’s motivation, obviously playing in that stadium is going to be a crazy atmosphere,” Feagles said. “They’re a good team. They’re not in our conference, so it’s not something we’re used to seeing. We know they’re going to be ready, they’re an SEC school, so we don’t expect anything less.”
