Over the last ten years Emporia State has had solid special teams with three different players earning All-American honors. Last season the Hornets were ranked third in the nation in punt return defense, seventh in net punting, eighth in kickoff return defense and 24th in kick returns.
Caden Dodson was named honorable mention All-MIAA as a true freshman in 2022 and is fourth in Emporia State history with 91 career extra points. Last season he was 54 of 58 on extra points and hit eight of nine field goals. He was an ambidextrous punter in high school that averaged 44.5 yards per punt with his left foot and 39 yards with his right foot.
Zion Jones averaged 36.6 yards per kick return and would have led the MIAA and nation if he had enough returns to qualify for the national leaders.
Kingsley Bennett averaged 21.8 yards on 14 kick returns last season to rank fifth in the MIAA.
Trenden Collins was the top punt returner for Emporia State last season as a true freshman, averaging 7.4 yards on seven punt returns.
Shep Waldrop is in his first season for the Hornets after transferring from Concordia-Wisconsin. He played in ten games as a long snapper for the Falcons last year. He was a part of an Arizona State Championship team at Horizon HS in Phoenix as a junior.
Alex Allemang was a second-team All-Centennial League selection at punter as a senior after earning honorable mention All-Centennial League at kicker as a junior for Emporia HS.
Dylan Davidson was named District 3A-1 Special Teams Player of the Year for Perkins-Tryon HS in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
