The punt return possibly could be the most exciting play in college football. It encompasses the ability to drastically change the course of the game in a matter of seconds.
Saturday, two of the most dangerous return men in the history of the Southeastern Conference will display their talents hoping to give their team that essential edge in momentum.
Kentucky’s Derek Abney and LSU’s Domanick Davis are two men who drive opposing coaches mad with their mastery of returning kicks.
Abney eclipsed Davis last week to become the conference’s leader after returning two punts — 69 yards and 52 yards — for touchdowns against Mississippi State. Abney now has four touchdowns on punt returns to go along with his one touchdown on a kickoff return.
“I was leading in punt returns, but [Abney] just got on top of me,” Davis said. “I’m kind of taking that personally. I just want to go out there and dominate the whole special teams — kickoff returns and punt returns. So it’s going to be a battle between me and him.”
Abney carries a punt return average of 18.8 yards per return (third highest in the country) into Saturday’s game against LSU. Davis is on his heels with 18.7 yards per return, good for fourth best in the country.
Davis has returned one punt for a touchdown this season, but had two called back for penalties, including the first return of the season against Virginia Tech.
Besides returning kicks, Abney and Davis both have large roles with their respective team’s offense.
Abney ranks second on the Wildcats’ roster with 465 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Davis is the Tigers’ leading rusher with 569 yards and six touchdowns.
But when either of these two players lines up for a return, the tension becomes thick and everybody pays close attention.
“When Derek gets his hands on the football, he’s a legitimate threat to take it back every time,” said Kentucky head coach Guy Morriss. He might be the first player ever to score a touchdown receiving and score touchdowns on a kickoff return and a punt return.”
Throughout the course of the season, Abney has reached paydirt 10 times.
“He’s the real deal,” said LSU free safety Jack Hunt. “The main thing is he can just flat out run. It’s kind of deceptive because he’s got short strides, kind of like [Domanick Davis], just not as heavy.”
Davis tops the SEC averaging 168.1 all-purpose yards per game, and Abney falls right behind him in second with 166.4.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m better than [Abney],” Davis said. “We’re good in our own ways. We’re both great athletes.”
With 4,968 career all-purpose yards, Davis is third in LSU history and sixth in SEC history. He needs 359 yards to surpass Dalton Hilliard to become second and fifth on those lists respectively.
Morriss and LSU head coach Nick Saban have the daunting responsibility to plan around these two phenoms to ensure the opposing player doesn’t break free and return a kick or a punt for a touchdown.
“We have a plan, and we have practiced several different ways that we could kick the ball [to Abney],” Saban said. “And we’ll decide based on how we’re doing whether that’s necessary or not. But I would like to decide to do it before he returns one for a touchdown.”
LSU linebacker Bradie James said the Tigers cannot stop Abney from getting the ball in his hands, either from a punt, kickoff or a pass from quarterback Jared Lorenzen.
“We’re just going to have to control the yards after the catch,” James said. “All we have to do is cover real well. If we get down there and cover and get in his way, we can stop him. But if we don’t, he’s going to make some plays.”