BOCA RATON — Though Florida Atlantic’s special teams unit struggled in the season’s first half, redshirt freshman kicker Vladi Rivas is trying to keep things in perspective.
“We’re rookies right now,” Rivas said. “You’ve got to give us some time. Probably next year we’re going to be a great unit. No doubt about it.”
A redshirt freshman from Miami, Rivas and true freshman punter Sebastian Riella are both looking to get things going in the next few weeks. Rivas is now fully recovered from a lingering groin injury and Riella, whose 34.3 average yards per punt ranks among the worst in the country by full-time punters.