Kickoffs a question mark: Tydlacka replaces Masthay on punts, kickoffs

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Kickoff specialist isn’t exactly what most people consider to be a critical position. When thinking about the biggest holes to fill on this year’s football team, most people don’t worry about the punter. But Tim Masthay proved himself to be far more valuable than most punters in his highly decorated UK career.

Masthay’s booming leg could change games punting or kicking off, pinning opponents deep in their own territory and with poor field position or forcing touchbacks even when UK’s offense stalled.

“Tim Masthay has spoiled us for four years,” said UK head coach Rich Brooks.

Sophomore Ryan Tydlack kicks a field goal against South Carolina last year at Commonwealth Stadium. Kristin Sherrard | Kentucky Kernel

Sophomore Ryan Tydlacka, a jack-of-all-trades in the kicking game, is the man the coaching staff is looking at to replace Masthay both as a punter and as a kickoff specialist. Last season, Tydlacka got his first game experience as a pooch punter, trying to precisely drop punts on shorter kicks.

“I feel confident he’ll do an outstanding job of punting the ball,” Brooks said. “I’m more concerned about kickoffs.”

Tydlacka felt the same way. There are still plenty of questions about whether or not he can be the kickoff specialist that Masthay was, but he should be just fine as a punter.

“I learned a lot from Tim,” Tydlacka said. “Not necessarily kicking, like the actual technique. I already knew technique. But I learned a lot from him like how to handle different situations, getting used to going to meetings, saving your leg in practice, that helped a whole lot.”

Sophomore safety Winston Guy and junior tailback Derrick Locke are the top kick returners. Sophomore wide receiver Randall Cobb is listed as the top punt returner.

For the fourth consecutive year, Lones Seiber will handle the kicking duties for the team. He still had some issues following hip surgery entering camp, but expects to be fully ready to go for the season opener Sept. 5 against Miami of Ohio.

If Seiber isn’t ready by that time or if he begins the season, Tydlacka could also fulfill the kicking duties for the Cats. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s had to do that; he was a prodigious high school kicker as well as a highly ranked punter. That experience makes Tydlacka confident he can handle whatever duties the coaches assign to him.

In fact, Tydlacka saw some time at kicker last year, going 3-for-6 in three games, highlighted by a 51-yard make against South Carolina. Seiber hasn’t made a field goal of longer than 48 yards in his career. Tydlacka said he has made a 65-yarder while practicing once, and while using a kicking block during practice in high school made a 71-yard field goal. Seiber said he expects Tydlacka to become UK’s kicker, punter and kickoff specialist before Tydlacka graduates.

“Ever since he’s been here, I knew that one day he’s going to probably do all three here,” Seiber said. “So there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m confident in my backup.”

Brooks said he needs Seiber to be more consistent this season. If he isn’t, the all-Tydlacka, all-the-time kicking game might get an early start. For now, it’s all he can do to guess just how long of a field goal he might be able to convert in a game.

“In a game, it’s a little different,” Tydlacka said. “I’d say 60 (yards) wouldn’t be too far out there. I think if I hit it well enough I could probably make it.”