The Jackrabbit special teams will look very different in 2025 due to the graduation of all-everything Hunter Dustman. The Jacks also bring back Isaiah Jackson as the special teams coordinator. He was a standout linebacker for the Jacks from 2006-2009. He’s been in the coaching profession since and spent the past 8 seasons at UC Davis, first as the linebackers coach and then the special teams coordinator in 2024. Jackson is excited about the open competition in his room and how hard everyone is working to make the Jackrabbit special teams the best in the country.
We’ll start where there is some consistency from previous years. #37 Kaydon Olivia (5’11, 215, SR) is back as the long snapper. He did a nice job in 2024. Jackson appreciates Olivia’s work ethic and just the leadership he brings to the room and special teams room. Olivia was selected as the 2nd Team All-MVFC snapper in 2025 and has been selected to two different preseason All-American lists.
Pushing Olivia to be the long snapper is #59 Carson Strohbeen (6’1, 210, SO). Stohbeen is a walk-on and self-taught long snapper. Jackson said he is a very good athlete and actually had an offer to play QB from NAIA power, Morningside out of high school. Jackson said that Strohbeen is still improving and growing.
#41 Max Pelham (6’1, 195, SR) will have the opportunity to win the punting job this season. Pelham had just 1 punt on opportunity in 2024 but it was a beauty that traveled 44 yards. Prior to transferring to SDSU, Pelham was at Mankato where he averaged 40.4 yards per punt across 2 seasons. Jackson said that Pelham has been awesome this summer and has actually been working as a counselor for the Jamie Kohl kicking camps.
The Jacks brought in #40 Kevin Carrigan Jr. (6’1, 195, JR) as a potential combo guy. Jackson said he has experience doing all 3 and that they brought him in because he really fits the culture of SDSU and is a great person. He is very mature with a huge leg that easily boots the ball out of the back of the end zone. He also has a variety of punting techniques that make him a bit of a wildcard. Carrigan spent the 2024 season at UCF but prior to that was at Bloomsburg (D2) where he averaged 39.9 yarder per punt and made 2 of 3 field goal attempts during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
In the spring #99 Anthony Erickson (5’10, 180, SO) filled in as the kicker after serving as the SF Jefferson kicker for Coach Benedetto. The Jacks needed a kicker for spring ball and Erickson did a great job. Jackson was surprised how well Erickson did after not kicking for a year. Regardless of the circumstances that led to Erickson the team, he is now in the mix at kicker.
The Jacks brought in a pair of freshmen and the first is #81 Ryan Harrington (6’3, 165, FR) from Ankeny, Iowa. According to Jackson, Max Pelham was aware of Harrington and that he was still uncommitted. Jackson dug into his tape and saw that he was regularly competing and beating the Jackrabbits previously committed kicker who ended up at Washington State. Jackson said that Harrington has a big leg and is competing at kicker. Jackson feels he has a really bright future!
The other freshman is #48 Krayton Bergstrom (5’7, 150, FR) who is competing at punter. Bergstrom averaged 42.7 yards per punt during his senior season of high school. Jackson said he is a terrific guy to have in the room and that he brings the room to life.
Jackson stressed the importance of the coverage and return teams. He knows that the momentum swings that special teams provides can be the difference in a game.
In the return game he said that wide receiver #2 Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, #19 Jack Smith, and freshmen such as #86 TyJohn Brooks, #23 Joe Kolega, and #0 Landon Dulaney (and others) will all get opportunities to be the kick and punt returner. He also mentioned that he wants to get the best 11 guys on the team on punt team. He mentioned guys like #13 Aydan Dautermann, #3 Dontay Johnson, and #30 Cody Cotton as guys he knows he can rely upon in the kick and punt coverage game.
Go Jacks!
Matt
