Things didn’t go as planned for Georgia Southern in 2009 — that much goes without saying.
If it weren’t for Adrian Mora, things could have been even worse.
The GSU kicker was 16-for-22 in the field goal department, perfect on his 19 extra-point attempts and, if it weren’t for a last-minute field goal against Albany in the season opener and a pair of 50 yarders against Wofford on the road, it could have ended up a 3-8 season.
Mora chalks it up to the three-man unit of long snapper Carter Jones, punter and holder Charlie Edwards and himself. The trio has been manning place kicking duties though a lot of close games. throughout the last two years.
“Charlie may have the best hands of anyone I’ve worked with,” said Mora. “Carter Jones has experience as a long snapper, and the three of us have been doing it for a while.”
In his career, Mora is 26-for-34 in the field goal department, and set his career high twice at Wofford on Oct. 3, 2009 with field goals of 48 and 50 yards.
“Setting two career-longs against Wofford, that was a good one,” Mora said. “That Albany game was great, too. I had missed one earlier, but the team trusted me with 40 seconds left, and it was a good snap by Carter, good hold by Charlie and a good kick.”
Mora currently sits at the top of the depth chart, but Jeff Monken’s first-year coaching staff wanted to be sure kicking duties were under control this season.
The went out and found Luke Cherry, a player who took a year off after high school at Florida State before GSU found his tapes and asked him if he wanted to return to the football field. Junior transfer Billy Greer is also in the mix for field goals and kickoffs.
New faces aren’t the only change on special teams, as Tom Melton returned as the Eagles’ strength and condition coach. He has a separate program for the GSU kickers.
“Coach Melton has done a great job with the strength program,” Mora said. We’re doing workouts appropriate for our position. I wouldn’t say it’s any better (than last season), just different.”
