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Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Special Teams Preview: Talent in the Kick and Punt Game With More Speed, Size, and Physicality
8/15/2026 9:10:00 AM | Football
Blend of returnees and newcomers will lead CMU’s special teams units in 2026; Kicking game in good shape with returnees.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Under Special Teams Coordinator Keith Murphy, Central Michigan's special teams have consistently ranked among the league's and nation's top programs in a variety of statistics.
The Chippewas return both punters, their holder, and several other punt and kick returners with experience, but must replace key contributors at placekicker and long snapper. Departed is Third Team All-MAC placekicker Cade Graham, who led Central Michigan in scoring (77 points), converted 14-17 field goals with a long of 47, hit nine consecutive field goals, and made all 35 of his extra point attempts last year. Special teams leader and long snapper Ben Pratt, who started at the position for three straight years, also has departed.
Murphy is excited about the players he has returning and the newcomers that he's added. Declan Duley and Zac Chapeau both return as exceptional punters, sophomore Caden VanHuis, a U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection, is back at placekicker, and Duley served as CMU's holder last year. Duley averaged 41.1 yards per punt (54-2221), 18 punts placed inside the 20-yard line, eight 50-yard punts, and a long of 71, while Chapeau averaged 40.3 yards per punt (3-121). In the offseason, Murphy added three more specialty players in long snappers Zach Curtis and Connor Ridderhoff, along with placekicker Braxton Doak.
"This year we have a lot of fresh new faces, but I'm excited about the bodies we have, the size, speed, strength, and physicalness," Murphy said. "At punter, Declan Duley and Zac Chapeau, the depth is very solid there. Either one of them can operate and do a great job for us. At kicker, we brought Caden VanHuis on last year as a freshman. Cade was phenomenal as a senior and did a great job for us, not only in his performance, but as a leader. I wasn't scared to play Caden, but Cade had a great year. He also was right there on par with Cade in practice. There is a good confidence there. We added Braxton in the offseason and he's going to fit in just fine and be a solid backup."
"The long snapper position is a little different because we have two new players," Murphy said. "I've known Zach Curtis for a long time. We brought him in from high school. All along in the back of my mind, I've always had the thought that Zach could come in and do a good job. Connor Ridderhoff is a guy who has snapped at Tennessee State. He provides consistency for us at both long and short snapper."
2026 SPECIAL TEAMS PERSONNEL ROSTER
15 | Zac Chapeau | Punter/Placekicker | Jr. | 6-2 | 205 | Athens, Ga.
51 | Zach Curtis | Long Snapper | Fr. | 6-3 | 220 | Haslett, Mich.
47 | Braxton Doak | Placekicker | Fr. | 5-11 | 165 | Green River, Wyo.
18 | Declan Duley | Punter/Holder | Jr. | 6-1 | 215 | El Paso, Ill.
57 | Connor Ridderhoff | Long Snapper | Fifth Year | 6-3 | 250 | Chelsea, Ala.
38 | Caden VanHuis | Placekicker | So. | 6-2 | 190 | Holland, Mich.
At both returner positions, the Chippewas lost Nahree Biggins (kickoff) and Caleb Spann (punt) from last year. Biggins, a running back, averaged 20.83 yards per kickoff return (12-250) with a long of 32, while Spann returned eight punts for 69 yards with a long return of 46 yards on the year. But Murphy is optimistic as several returnees returned both kicks and punts last year including Justin Ruffin, Jr. and Brock Townsend. Ruffin averaged 22.7 yards per kickoff return (3-68) last year, while Townsend returned one kickoff for 19 yards.
"We are really deep at returner as far as guys who can do the job," Murphy said. "Returner-wise, we feel like we've got some strong candidates. Justin Ruffin, Jr. was right on the verge last year of returning both kickoffs and punts. Brock Townsend can fit in there and do those things as well. They've both caught balls in-game and returned in the past. We feel comfortable with both.
"Tysen Campbell has stepped up and worked really hard to be a returner. Jaion Jackson can be the next Donte Kent, a corner who returns kicks as well. I'm excited about Jordan Stapleton, a new transfer coming in as a kickoff returner, along with Vaughn Blue. Josiah Booker and Shawn Foster II have both been working at the returner position as well. We are excited about those guys."
2026 PUNT RETURN SPECIALISTS ROSTER
16 | Josiah Booker | Jr. | 5-10 | 165 | Sarasota, Fla.
27 | Tysen Campbell | Jr. | 5-11 | 175 | Akron, Ohio
16 | Shawn Foster II | Sr. | 6-0 | 185 | Grand Ledge, Mich.
4 | Jaion Jackson | Jr. | 5-10 | 170 | East St. Louis, Ill.
9 | Justin Ruffin, Jr. | So. | 5-9 | Buckner, Ky.
2026 KICKOFF RETURN SPECIALISTS ROSTER
24 | Vaughn Blue | Sr. | 5-11 | 205 | Mount Pleasant, S.C.
9 | Justin Ruffin, Jr. | So. | 5-9 | Buckner, Ky.
45 | Jordan Stapleton | Fr. | 5-9 | 195 | Gulfport, Miss.
2 | Brock Townsend | Jr. | 6-0 | 215 | Caledonia, Mich.
Under Murphy, Central Michigan's coverage and protection teams have excelled. This year, Murphy has more depth at his disposal as he puts together his punt and kickoff coverage and protection teams.
Returning to the coverage and protection units are veterans Logan Borodychuk, Ed Conoran, Kyle Krebs, Landon Swanson, Tayte Vanderleest, Xavier White, and JJ Douglas. Key newcomers include Jayden Clerveaux, Mayson Hitchens, Brett McCalla, and Matthew McKenzie.
"With the depth we have at running back and linebacker, we've got a lot of guys who can contribute on special teams," Murphy said. "One guy I'm really excited about is Logan Borodychuk, who will see action in a variety spots on special teams."
OTHER KEY SPECIAL TEAMS PERSONNEL
82 | Logan Borodychuk | Jr. | 6-5 | 255 | Mount Pleasant, Mich.
31 | Jayden Clerveaux | Sr. | 5-11 | 220 | Everett, Mass.
7 | Ed Conoran | Fifth Year | 5-11 | 190 | Dover, N.J.
1 | JJ Douglas | So. | 6-5 | 250 | Janesville, Wis.
35 | Mayson Hitchens | Sr. | 6-1 | 225 | Anaheim, Calif.
23 | Kyle Krebs | Fifth Year | 6-0 | 185 | Denver, Colo.
40 | Brett McCalla | Fifth Year | 6-4 | 225 | Manhattan Beach, Calif.
26 | Matthew McKenzie | Jr. | 6-3 | 200 | West Palm Beach, Fla.
42 | Landon Swanson | Sr. | 6-3 | 240 | Charlevoix, Mich.
81 | Tayte Vanderleest | Sr. | 6-4 | 220 | Muskegon, Mich.
11 | Xavier White | Jr. | 6-0 | 235 | Los Angeles, Calif.
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The Chippewas return both punters, their holder, and several other punt and kick returners with experience, but must replace key contributors at placekicker and long snapper. Departed is Third Team All-MAC placekicker Cade Graham, who led Central Michigan in scoring (77 points), converted 14-17 field goals with a long of 47, hit nine consecutive field goals, and made all 35 of his extra point attempts last year. Special teams leader and long snapper Ben Pratt, who started at the position for three straight years, also has departed.
Murphy is excited about the players he has returning and the newcomers that he's added. Declan Duley and Zac Chapeau both return as exceptional punters, sophomore Caden VanHuis, a U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection, is back at placekicker, and Duley served as CMU's holder last year. Duley averaged 41.1 yards per punt (54-2221), 18 punts placed inside the 20-yard line, eight 50-yard punts, and a long of 71, while Chapeau averaged 40.3 yards per punt (3-121). In the offseason, Murphy added three more specialty players in long snappers Zach Curtis and Connor Ridderhoff, along with placekicker Braxton Doak.
"This year we have a lot of fresh new faces, but I'm excited about the bodies we have, the size, speed, strength, and physicalness," Murphy said. "At punter, Declan Duley and Zac Chapeau, the depth is very solid there. Either one of them can operate and do a great job for us. At kicker, we brought Caden VanHuis on last year as a freshman. Cade was phenomenal as a senior and did a great job for us, not only in his performance, but as a leader. I wasn't scared to play Caden, but Cade had a great year. He also was right there on par with Cade in practice. There is a good confidence there. We added Braxton in the offseason and he's going to fit in just fine and be a solid backup."
"The long snapper position is a little different because we have two new players," Murphy said. "I've known Zach Curtis for a long time. We brought him in from high school. All along in the back of my mind, I've always had the thought that Zach could come in and do a good job. Connor Ridderhoff is a guy who has snapped at Tennessee State. He provides consistency for us at both long and short snapper."
2026 SPECIAL TEAMS PERSONNEL ROSTER
15 | Zac Chapeau | Punter/Placekicker | Jr. | 6-2 | 205 | Athens, Ga.
51 | Zach Curtis | Long Snapper | Fr. | 6-3 | 220 | Haslett, Mich.
47 | Braxton Doak | Placekicker | Fr. | 5-11 | 165 | Green River, Wyo.
18 | Declan Duley | Punter/Holder | Jr. | 6-1 | 215 | El Paso, Ill.
57 | Connor Ridderhoff | Long Snapper | Fifth Year | 6-3 | 250 | Chelsea, Ala.
38 | Caden VanHuis | Placekicker | So. | 6-2 | 190 | Holland, Mich.
At both returner positions, the Chippewas lost Nahree Biggins (kickoff) and Caleb Spann (punt) from last year. Biggins, a running back, averaged 20.83 yards per kickoff return (12-250) with a long of 32, while Spann returned eight punts for 69 yards with a long return of 46 yards on the year. But Murphy is optimistic as several returnees returned both kicks and punts last year including Justin Ruffin, Jr. and Brock Townsend. Ruffin averaged 22.7 yards per kickoff return (3-68) last year, while Townsend returned one kickoff for 19 yards.
"We are really deep at returner as far as guys who can do the job," Murphy said. "Returner-wise, we feel like we've got some strong candidates. Justin Ruffin, Jr. was right on the verge last year of returning both kickoffs and punts. Brock Townsend can fit in there and do those things as well. They've both caught balls in-game and returned in the past. We feel comfortable with both.
"Tysen Campbell has stepped up and worked really hard to be a returner. Jaion Jackson can be the next Donte Kent, a corner who returns kicks as well. I'm excited about Jordan Stapleton, a new transfer coming in as a kickoff returner, along with Vaughn Blue. Josiah Booker and Shawn Foster II have both been working at the returner position as well. We are excited about those guys."
2026 PUNT RETURN SPECIALISTS ROSTER
16 | Josiah Booker | Jr. | 5-10 | 165 | Sarasota, Fla.
27 | Tysen Campbell | Jr. | 5-11 | 175 | Akron, Ohio
16 | Shawn Foster II | Sr. | 6-0 | 185 | Grand Ledge, Mich.
4 | Jaion Jackson | Jr. | 5-10 | 170 | East St. Louis, Ill.
9 | Justin Ruffin, Jr. | So. | 5-9 | Buckner, Ky.
2026 KICKOFF RETURN SPECIALISTS ROSTER
24 | Vaughn Blue | Sr. | 5-11 | 205 | Mount Pleasant, S.C.
9 | Justin Ruffin, Jr. | So. | 5-9 | Buckner, Ky.
45 | Jordan Stapleton | Fr. | 5-9 | 195 | Gulfport, Miss.
2 | Brock Townsend | Jr. | 6-0 | 215 | Caledonia, Mich.
Under Murphy, Central Michigan's coverage and protection teams have excelled. This year, Murphy has more depth at his disposal as he puts together his punt and kickoff coverage and protection teams.
Returning to the coverage and protection units are veterans Logan Borodychuk, Ed Conoran, Kyle Krebs, Landon Swanson, Tayte Vanderleest, Xavier White, and JJ Douglas. Key newcomers include Jayden Clerveaux, Mayson Hitchens, Brett McCalla, and Matthew McKenzie.
"With the depth we have at running back and linebacker, we've got a lot of guys who can contribute on special teams," Murphy said. "One guy I'm really excited about is Logan Borodychuk, who will see action in a variety spots on special teams."
OTHER KEY SPECIAL TEAMS PERSONNEL
82 | Logan Borodychuk | Jr. | 6-5 | 255 | Mount Pleasant, Mich.
31 | Jayden Clerveaux | Sr. | 5-11 | 220 | Everett, Mass.
7 | Ed Conoran | Fifth Year | 5-11 | 190 | Dover, N.J.
1 | JJ Douglas | So. | 6-5 | 250 | Janesville, Wis.
35 | Mayson Hitchens | Sr. | 6-1 | 225 | Anaheim, Calif.
23 | Kyle Krebs | Fifth Year | 6-0 | 185 | Denver, Colo.
40 | Brett McCalla | Fifth Year | 6-4 | 225 | Manhattan Beach, Calif.
26 | Matthew McKenzie | Jr. | 6-3 | 200 | West Palm Beach, Fla.
42 | Landon Swanson | Sr. | 6-3 | 240 | Charlevoix, Mich.
81 | Tayte Vanderleest | Sr. | 6-4 | 220 | Muskegon, Mich.
11 | Xavier White | Jr. | 6-0 | 235 | Los Angeles, Calif.
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