https://michiganstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1791080
August 10, 2015
Hartbarger starts camp strong
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - Michigan State is breaking in a new punter for just the third time since 2007, and first-year special teams coordinator Mark Snyder is eager to see physically-gifted redshirt freshman Jake Hartbarger demonstrate that he can perform under pressure the wayMike Sadler did as a starter from 2011-2014.
"He has tons and tons of potential, and he has a big leg," Snyder said. "He needs to do it under pressure. He's got to show me under pressure."
Robert Hendricks
Redshirt freshman punter has big shoes to fill with the graduation of Mike Sadler.
Hartbarger, who redshirted last season after signing as a consensus Top 5 punter in the Class of 2014, has made a favorable impression during training camp thus far.
"(He) had a tremendous first day, and he can be as good as there is," Dantonio said. "But he's young, he's a freshman, so we need to test him throughout camp and make sure his go times are right, which they are. We've got a great snapper, so we should be good, but it's new territory, new ground. As he moves forward, he'll get more accustomed to things, and he needs to take a leadership role with our punt team."
Hartbarger is pleased with the way he is punting in practice.
"As far as consistency at the start of fall camp, I feel happy with how things are going so far," he said. "Chemistry between punter and snapper is also good."
Although he has a stronger leg than his predecessor, Hartbarger is determined to continue the trend of pinning opponents on their own goal-line as Sadler did so effectively during his four years as a starter.
"We have had a tradition of good punters come through here with Mike and guys that have come through here before him," Hartbarger said. "It's not all about the big ball. I like to pin people inside the 20 too. I learned a lot from Mike. He helped me out with a lot of little things technique-wise."
Third-year starter longsnapper Taybor Pepper should be a calming influence for Hartbarger.
"It should be a great help," Snyder said. "He is a great longsnapper. He is really good. He puts the ball back there in a hurry. That should help a lot. He's just got to relax and punt the ball."
Hartbarger has not experienced the pressure of punting in front of 75,000 plus on game day. But he regularly faces simulated pressure in practice.
"Just heat him up verbally, bring people after him, have people yelling at him from behind," Snyder said. "Any kind of distraction that you can give him."
Back-up quarterback Tyler O'Connor, who was one of the better punters in Ohio during his high school career at Lima Central Catholic, hasn't boomed as many punts during practice as Hartbarger. But he has shown the mental toughness needed to perform under pressure.
"Tyler is a gamer," Snyder said. "He probably don't have the leg that Jake has but he is ballplayer. He brings an added dimension too because he can throw it and run it. Maybe not the potential, but he has other ingredients. If Jake don't get it done, we're fine having other ingredients."
O'Connor was approached about a potential role as a specialist last spring.
"During the spring, coaches invested a kicking shoe in me," O'Connor said. "That has worked out pretty well. I have actually gotten better. I had some instruction over the summer, and I have had a few good days this camp. It is going well, better than I thought. I am better than I was in high school."
O'Connor averaged 38 yards per punt as a senior in high school. He also converted 26 of 29 PAT kicks.
August 10, 2015
Hartbarger starts camp strong
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - Michigan State is breaking in a new punter for just the third time since 2007, and first-year special teams coordinator Mark Snyder is eager to see physically-gifted redshirt freshman Jake Hartbarger demonstrate that he can perform under pressure the wayMike Sadler did as a starter from 2011-2014.
"He has tons and tons of potential, and he has a big leg," Snyder said. "He needs to do it under pressure. He's got to show me under pressure."
Robert Hendricks
Redshirt freshman punter has big shoes to fill with the graduation of Mike Sadler.
Hartbarger, who redshirted last season after signing as a consensus Top 5 punter in the Class of 2014, has made a favorable impression during training camp thus far.
"(He) had a tremendous first day, and he can be as good as there is," Dantonio said. "But he's young, he's a freshman, so we need to test him throughout camp and make sure his go times are right, which they are. We've got a great snapper, so we should be good, but it's new territory, new ground. As he moves forward, he'll get more accustomed to things, and he needs to take a leadership role with our punt team."
Hartbarger is pleased with the way he is punting in practice.
"As far as consistency at the start of fall camp, I feel happy with how things are going so far," he said. "Chemistry between punter and snapper is also good."
Although he has a stronger leg than his predecessor, Hartbarger is determined to continue the trend of pinning opponents on their own goal-line as Sadler did so effectively during his four years as a starter.
"We have had a tradition of good punters come through here with Mike and guys that have come through here before him," Hartbarger said. "It's not all about the big ball. I like to pin people inside the 20 too. I learned a lot from Mike. He helped me out with a lot of little things technique-wise."
Third-year starter longsnapper Taybor Pepper should be a calming influence for Hartbarger.
"It should be a great help," Snyder said. "He is a great longsnapper. He is really good. He puts the ball back there in a hurry. That should help a lot. He's just got to relax and punt the ball."
Hartbarger has not experienced the pressure of punting in front of 75,000 plus on game day. But he regularly faces simulated pressure in practice.
"Just heat him up verbally, bring people after him, have people yelling at him from behind," Snyder said. "Any kind of distraction that you can give him."
Back-up quarterback Tyler O'Connor, who was one of the better punters in Ohio during his high school career at Lima Central Catholic, hasn't boomed as many punts during practice as Hartbarger. But he has shown the mental toughness needed to perform under pressure.
"Tyler is a gamer," Snyder said. "He probably don't have the leg that Jake has but he is ballplayer. He brings an added dimension too because he can throw it and run it. Maybe not the potential, but he has other ingredients. If Jake don't get it done, we're fine having other ingredients."
O'Connor was approached about a potential role as a specialist last spring.
"During the spring, coaches invested a kicking shoe in me," O'Connor said. "That has worked out pretty well. I have actually gotten better. I had some instruction over the summer, and I have had a few good days this camp. It is going well, better than I thought. I am better than I was in high school."
O'Connor averaged 38 yards per punt as a senior in high school. He also converted 26 of 29 PAT kicks.
