CU Special Teams Turn 2-0 in Field Goals After Midterm D-Minus

Elliott Arnold is 2 for 2 on field goals since the Colorado football team’s midseason break. The quiet performance has shifted the narrative around the Buffs’ special teams unit, which previously struggled to maintain consistency.

Head coach Deion Sanders noted the change during a press conference on Tuesday. He said he had not heard reporters ask about special teams for the last couple of weeks. Sanders told the media the unit could be fixed and stated, “I guess you didn’t believe it, but we pretty much did.”

Before the break, the special teams unit earned a D-minus grade in the midterm evaluation. The score kept the unit out of failing territory only because of a game-winning blocked field goal at Georgia Tech. At that point in the season, Arnold had made just three of six attempts.

The unit has held up its end in the two games since the break. Arnold’s 32-yard field goal put Colorado ahead of Utah 17-13. Later, his 45-yard kick gave the Buffaloes a 24-20 lead late in the first half at Oklahoma State. All five of Arnold’s kickoffs in Stillwater resulted in touchbacks.

Tight end Brady Kopetz plays on the kickoff return, punt, and punt return units. He said the change started with a group of players who genuinely wanted to be on those units. Kopetz explained that many coaches tell players not to lose the game on special teams, but he believes the unit can also win games.

“You can lose the game on special teams by making mistakes and having errors within special teams, but you can also win games on special teams,” Kopetz said. The units now aim to set up the offense and defense to make plays.

Kopetz has been in Boulder for longer than Sanders. The fifth-year tight end from Portland, Oregon, redshirted in 2022 and played in five games in 2023. He played in the final five games of 2024 and all 12 last season, wearing the Leader patch for the finale at Kansas State. He has played in every game this season.

Punter Damon Greaves credited the buy-in from everyone on the team. He said special teams impacted the team in the early part of the season in a way they did not want. Those early games showed how much the unit matters for staying in games and being competitive.

Greaves has provided steady hands on the unit. On Arnold’s 45-yard field goal, the snap came in high and outside. Greaves caught the ball and got it down in time. He described holding as an underappreciated position and the connecting link between the snapper and the kicker.

In practice, the Buffaloes throw bad snaps at Greaves on purpose. He gave credit to Arnold for executing a nice kick despite the difficult snap. Greaves said a bad snap can throw off a kicker’s approach and confidence. “So for him to be able to execute such a nice kick and get the points was great,” Greaves said.

Greaves is the busiest punter in the Big 12. He has punted 33 times, leading the league. His 45.2-yard average ranks seventh, and he has 12 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He is also a recognized leader on the team, a role he earned through work ethic and leading by example.

With losses piling up, Greaves said he plans to be a little more vocal down the stretch. Sanders said the team just has to continue and be consistent in that area. Colorado hosts Kansas State at noon Saturday on TNT.