Replacing players is a fact of life in the sports world, especially in college football. But when it comes to replacing a school’s all-time leading scorer, the task becomes even more daunting.LSU is in that exact predicament this spring, attempting to replace kicker Colt David.David’s 363 career points as a kicker — not including his fake field goal touchdown run in 2007 against South Carolina — are the most by an individual player in LSU history. It is also 352 more than the combined total points of the three kickers vying for his vacated position.But junior kicker Josh Jasper said David’s impact on the program was deeper than just kicking.”The records just naturally happened,” Jasper said. “But [David] was more of a team player. He made me a much better kicker by forcing me to get reps at practice even though he was the starting kicker.”Jasper, junior Andrew Crutchfield and redshirt freshman Drew Alleman are all in contention for the starting job. The only one to have scored points in a game is Jasper, who was 2-for-2 on field goals last season and 5-for-5 on extra points. The other two have yet to attempt a kick with points on the line.”Josh Jasper is the leader right now,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “He’s a guy who is very capable, and I think we’ll be fine there.”Miles said Jasper is expected to handle the place kicking duties as well as kickoffs. Punter Brady Dalfrey’s graduation left another vacant spot on special teams. Last season, LSU averaged 40.3 yards per punt, which ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference.Jasper is the only kicker on the roster who has attempted a punt in a game. He attempted four punts in 2008, averaging 43.0 yards per kick.Junior Derek Helton, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan., will contend for the starting position and may be the holder on field goals. Helton averaged 36.1 yards per punt in 2008, with his longest traveling 68 yards.”He has good hands,” Jasper said. “We work constantly through the day, and he has progressed tremendously. Right now, I’m real confident when he catches the ball.”LSU used a tactic called the sky kick on kickoffs last season. The sky kick is not designed to put the ball in the end zone for a touchback, but instead get maximum hang time for the coverage team to get downfield. Using that strategy, LSU finished fifth in the SEC in kickoff coverage.”I think we’ll use it [this season] because it might give return teams a difficult time returning,” Miles said.LSU retains all its kick returners from last season. The Tigers finished last in the SEC in kickoff returning, averaging just 19.5 yards per return.Seniors Trindon Holliday and Keiland Williams should anchor the kick return game for the second straight season. In 2008, Holliday has averaged 22.6 yards per return.”The team will have speed,” Miles said. “And at times we may see Holliday and [sophomore cornerback Ron] Brooks back there.”The punt returner duties will once again be split between Holliday and junior Chad Jones. Holliday fielded 21 punts, averaging 13.3 yards per return and one touchdown. Jones averaged 6.6 yards on 16 returns in 2008.——Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]