2025 Texas Longhorns football preview: Veteran transfers look to reignite special teams unit

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With a pair of transfers to help fill voids at kicker and punter, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said he's excited about the special teams group's experience level.

"The one thing I love is that we've got all seniors," he said during SEC media days. "I've got a senior long snapper, a senior holder, senior punter, senior kicker, senior kickoff guy. So the experiences that they've had and what they've been through, I think, are going to serve us well as the season goes on."

2025 Texas Longhorns football positions previews

• Offensive Line
• Defensive Line
• Running Backs
• Linebackers
• Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
• Quarterbacks
• Defensive Backs

Sarkisian dipped into the portal to grab Liberty Hill native Mason Shipley, who has one year of eligibility left after setting records for the Texas State Bobcats. Shipley holds the Bobcats and Sun Belt Conference record for the longest field goal, hitting a 60-yarder against Sam Houston State. He was 31-for-35 on field goals over three seasons in San Marcos and was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 2023 after going a perfect 15-for-15.

Special teams coordinator Jeff Banks said Shipley "has a proven track record of making kicks."

"Mason has a great disposition," Banks said. "He's a mature kid, really, a man who has a very good demeanor. We had a good summer with him."

Shipley replaces Bert Auburn, who transferred to the Miami Hurricanes for his final year of eligibility after a tremendous career with the Longhorns that ended on a sour note. Auburn struggled last season, making 16 of 25 field goal attempts, but holds the program record with 66 made field goals.

Banks said Auburn's struggles came from long range, anything from 45 yards and beyond, so he wanted to get a kicker who consistently made those kicks. It's tough to beat a guy who has connected from 60 yards.

Will Stone, a senior from Austin, returns to handle the kickoff duties, and another Austin native, redshirt freshman Spencer Barnett, will provide some depth. He made a 59-yard field goal in the opening game of the 2023 season for the Westlake Chaparrals. He made a 53-yard kick later in the year against Lake Travis.

Banks said Stone will also compete with Shipley to kick field goals.

At punter, Sarkisian went international at the position and grabbed Jack Bouwmeester, a Bendigo, Australia, native who was a two-time all-conference performer for the Utah Utes. He has one year of eligibility left, but his commitment eventually led to the transfer of sophomore Michael Kern. As a freshman, Kern turned in strong performances late in the season after recovering from an ankle injury, but Bouwmeester won the job in the spring. Kern will punt for the Cal Golden Bears this year.

Texas was not very good in terms of net punting last season, ranking No. 111 in FBS with an average of 36.43 yards gained per kick. Banks said Bouwmeester's experience will serve the team well.

"He's mature, he's played a lot of football and he has a great ability to fix things quickly," Banks said. "We need a guy who can punt far, high, and directionally, and we'll be fine. We're pretty fast on the perimeter."

Lance St. Louis returns as the deep snapper with 40 games under his belt.

The return game, Banks said, will fall on three players: DeAndre Moore, Ryan Niblett and Quintrevion Wisner. Niblett is now a defensive back after starting his career at Texas as a receiver, then moving to the backfield last year to provide depth.

Banks said the biggest thing with those three is the trust factor.

"All three of them have home run ability, and they've been in the fray," Banks said. "They're seasoned veterans, and now it's just about honing those skills in the next 25-30 days."