It isn’t often that a kicker is the lone player on the squad to make the league’s preseason first-team all-conference club.

When it happens it usually means the team is coming off a tough season.

That is the case for McNeese State.

When Garrison Smith transferred in from Ohio State last year, he became the answer to the Cowboys’ kicking needs.

The two seasons before Smith McNeese even had trouble kicking extra points, going through placekickers like they were waterboys.

Smith changed all that.

Called by McNeese head coach Gary Goff “a different kind of dude” when he showed up, Smith proved to be a different kind of kicker.

McNeese has had a history of good kickers, but Smith did that one better. He made 10 of 11 field goal tries last season and was a perfect 25-for-25 on extra points.

His long of 47 yards came against Incarnate Word and was the eighth-longest in school history. His 10 field goals ranked second in the Southland Conference while his 84 points ranked second. Smith also kicked off 44 times with 27 of those going for touchbacks and punted seven times for a 40.4 average.

“Anytime we get past midfield I think I can make it,” Smith said.

His kicking earned Smith freshman all-American honors from Hero Sports as well as being named to the SLC’s first team.

Long snapper Trey Vondestein and punter Callum Eddings both return. For Vondestein this is his sixth season with McNeese.

“This place is special to me,” said Vondestein, who said he never considered leaving the school.

“When I signed here I committed to McNeese. I’m excited for this season,” he said.

Eddings punted 47 times last fall with a 38.6 average. He had 17 punts downed inside the 20.

“We have a pretty solid kicking game,” Goff said. “Smith is a real weapon for us.”

McNeese will have to find a replacement for Mason Pierce, who was the team’s top return man the last two seasons. The Cowboys will have plenty of players to choose from to fill Pierce’s role with nine new scholarship receivers on the roster.

Special teams looks like a strong group for the Cowboys once again.