In most places, special teams is the often forgotten about third facet of football.

At a place like Auburn, however, that might not be the case considering Tigers fans know as well as anyone that one play on special teams can win you a football game — sometimes it comes in the shape of a 109-yard run with one second to play against your in-state rival.

And rest assured, Auburn and its new coaching staff are still placing an emphasis on special teams.

“A big talking point of special teams is that when you go to the league or you’re picked up as an undrafted signee, they’ll look for guys who want to work,” said senior punter Oscar Chapman. “That might come on special teams and guys might get their shots on kickoffs and punts.”

Last season, Chapman had current Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall and current Los Angeles Raiders tight end John Samuel Shenker on his punt team, along with other team captains and starters.

“They’re all busting it to get on there because they know that’s another opportunity for the league or for other opportunities outside of this,” Chapman said. “It’s just another point to add to your criteria for scouts to look at you and go ‘That guy works’ on defense and then he goes down and smacks a dude on kickoff the next play.”

Auburn cornerback DJ James is one of those guys, Chapman says.

Though James likely won’t have an issue getting to league as a cornerback, his efforts as a gunner on the punt team only add to his stock.

“It’s just good to see those guys come in and stand out a little bit more and step up to that role and get excited for special teams,” Chapman said.

And from the sounds of it, there’s plenty to be excited about as it relates to Auburn’s special teams this coming season.

Chapman, who was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist last fall, is set to return as the Tigers’ starting punter. Last season, Chapman averaged 43.9 yards per punt, ranking him fourth in the SEC. Chapman also tallied 12 punts of 50 yards or better and hasn’t had a punt blocked in his entire career.

Assuming his senior campaign stays on par with the success he’s had leading up to this year, Chapman might be another Australian-bred addition to the NFL’s punting ranks. But as of now, that’s the least of his worries.

It’s pretty cool stuff,” Chapman said. “(But I’m) trying to keep my feet where they are at the moment and just focus on this.”

In other areas of special teams, Auburn sounds to be improved from last season.

Redshirt freshman kicker Alex McPherson, while young, has a huge leg, Chapman says.

“I think he hit like a 63 (yard field goal) in practice,” Chapman said of McPherson. “Coach was like, ‘Let’s just run it’ and he kicked it… we were like, ‘Yeah, that’s Alex’.”

Last season, McPherson backed up veteran kicker Anders Carlson, who currently kicks for the Green Bay Packers.

Now, it’s McPherson’s turn to be Auburn’s starting place kicker.

“He’s just excelled. He’s just kicking bombs and he’s consistent and he’s having fun. He’s relaxed, but he gets the job done,” Chapman said of McPherson. “There’s still a little bit to improve because he’s still a freshman – a redshirt freshman – but he’s just… he’s got everything for him.”

As it relates to returners, Freeze said last week that USF transfer Brian Battie would be the Tigers’ main guy for kickoff.

While at USF, Battie was named a consensus All-American as a kick returner in 2021 after leading the nation with three kickoffs returned for touchdowns and tie an NCAA record after having two 100-yard returns in one game.

“Battie will get the nod at kickoff return to start with,” Freeze said. “I do think we have other options too. But he’s proven to be one of the nation’s best so I think he’ll get the nod there.”

For punt returns, the Tigers will look to cornerback Keionte Scott a majority of the time, while redshirt freshman wide receiver Caleb Burton III could also get looks.

“Probably Keionte Scott, but Caleb Burton’s really solid at punt catching and returning there too,” Freeze said. “But probably Keionte will get the nod at punt return. He’s done it before in this league and he’s pretty calm.”