HARRISONBURG — James Madison senior Rashard Davis said he remembers watching highlights online of North Carolina’s Ryan Switzer return punts.
Switzer, a senior, is a two-time All-American and has returned seven punts for touchdowns in his Tar Heels career.
As a freshman, he exploded onto the college football scene by setting a single-season Atlantic Coast Conference record with five touchdowns via the punt return.
“Punt returning gave me an in,” Switzer said. “From playing running back in high school and having to learn a new position at receiver on offense, I had to start from scratch. But punt return was simple. Catch the ball and run where guys aren’t. I was able to do that. By returning those punts and being a big name on special teams, it allowed me to not redshirt.”
Davis, Madison’s speedster, has made a name for himself on special teams, too. In the last two weeks, he ran back two punts for touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder had a 76-yard return in Week 1 against Morehead State and a 75-yard score versus Central Connecticut State in Week 2.
This Saturday, the skilled return men meet when JMU visits UNC at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
“I see a lot of myself in [Switzer],” Davis said. “He’s very quick. He has speed on him. He makes one man miss and follows his blockers. I try to do the same.”
Currently, Davis leads FCS in punt return scores. For his effort against Central Connecticut State, he was named Colonial Athletic Association special teams player of the week.
The Charlottesville native credits the Dukes’ coaching staff for putting him in the position to make critical plays on special teams.
Before this year, Davis had only 63 punt return yards to his name on six attempts. His two tries this year have resulted in 151 yards.
“It’s just a good scheme by the coaches,” Davis said. “They put good players on there that a returner can trust a lot, too. Even if I don’t see the blockers right in front of my face, I can trust that they’ll be there. It’s all about trusting your teammates and following your blockers.”
Davis said backup cornerback Jimmy Moreland led the way on both of his touchdowns.
“I’m always looking for Jimmy Moreland. He’s taken me to the promised land,” Davis said.
Dukes special teams coordinator John Bowers said another backup cornerback, Curtis Oliver, helped spring Davis last Saturday. Bowers said Oliver blocked a would-be tackler for 10 seconds while Davis raced toward the purple paint at Bridgeforth Stadium.
“It’s above and beyond the call of duty,” Bowers said.
This week, Davis, Moreland, Oliver and the rest of JMU’s return team will face its toughest test.
North Carolina has yielded less than a yard per return. In UNC’s opener against Georgia, Bulldogs returner Isaiah McKenzie tallied negative-2 yards on three tries. At Illinois, in Week 2, Fighting Illini return man Darius Mosely managed 3 yards on one return.
“We pride ourselves on allowing nothing in yardage,” North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said. “We do a great job of getting down the field. I think our scheme enables us to do that, and then you have to give credit to [punter] Tom Sheldon because Tom does a great job with ball placement and hang time. I think it works really well together.”
Sheldon — a native of Australia — is averaging more than 42 yards per punt and has landed four of his nine kicks inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.
Davis said the lone rule JMU coaches have for him not to return punts is if they land inside the Dukes’ own 10-yard line.
As for slowing Switzer, JMU coach Mike Houston has made it a point of emphasis throughout the week of practice.
“We’ve watched [Switzer] for several years change games with his ability there,” Houston said. “You have to account for him.”
The other option for both coverage units to completely avoid a special teams disaster is to kick the ball out of bounds.
Davis and Switzer said they both want the chance to use their talents.
“We’re going to have to see,” Davis said with a grin. “I’m hoping they’ll kick to me.”
“I have heard they have three punt returns,” Switzer said. “That gets me going a little bit. It’d be nice for me to get one Saturday in front of the home crowd.”
