While the offensive skill players and front lines of ASU football's defense naturally draw the bulk of external attention, one of the most important returning players can be found roaming the sideline for a majority of the game.
Junior punter Matt Haack is coming off a season in which he made some of the largest strides of any Sun Devil, ascending the rankings of Pac-12 special team members to be considered one of the best in the "Conference of Champions."
Haack, who is originally from West Des Moines, Iowa, played an important role in many Sun Devil victories in 2014, keeping the opposition at a disadvantage with his booming punts and pinpoint placement. More than 30 percent of Haack's punts resulted in opponents drives starting inside the 20-yard line.
To those on the outside, it can seem as though the special teamers are "other," especially during practice. While the offense and defense scrimmage inside the Verde Dickey Dome, the kickers and snappers wait outside in the sun, working on their craft.
During their time away from the scrimmaging going on inside Haack said the group is active in making sure it has its jobs down pat.
"We just work on the little things," Haack said. "We're not supposed to go out and kick a whole bunch and kick our legs out."
He said that most of what goes on outside revolves around the technical side of kicking, like keeping steps consistent.
In addition, junior kicker Zane Gonzalez said the special teams group likes to have some fun.
"We like to play little friendly competitions outside," Gonzalez said. "Y'all probably see us punting or seeing who can throw the ball in the trash can. It's pretty fun and it bonds us as a group and overall we've had a pretty good time outside."
Haack and Gonzalez both brought up the closeness of the special teams unit, but the two of them may be the closest members of the team.
As freshmen in 2013, the two lived together and bonded fairly easily.
"Me and Matt are like brothers, man," Gonzalez said. "We came in together and didn't know each other, but we lived together our first two years, did everything together, carpooled together. ... That's helped us out a lot."
That camaraderie has helped with each of their individual progressions
"We trust each other and we feel like we can talk to each other and help each other out on different things," Haack said. "He's not a punter, but he knows some things about punting and I'm not a kicker, but I can tell him when something doesn't look right or something doesn't feel right."
The connection will help Haack transfer into a new role for 2015: holding placekicks. Haack said his close relationship with Gonzalez helped him get that position.
"(The coaches) asked me if I could do it because I'm with Zane so much and we have so much time to work on it," Haack said. "It's one of those things I just kind of picked up."
Haack said he'd never held before coming to campus in 2013, but started his freshman year to give the long-snappers more reps in practice and became good at it. His close relationship with Gonzalez allows the two to work extensively together in practice.
The work in practice has strengthened the factor that Gonzalez points to as the most important when it comes to holding, and one that's key in their friendship: trust.
"It's a trust thing," Gonzalez said. "We worked all spring and he's great. He's a superb athlete and it's been great. And it gives us more reps in practice to work together, so it's awesome."
At the end of the day, ASU has lofty goals that it wants to accomplish this season and Haack believes this team can achieve them if everyone takes what the coaches say to heart.
"This year we expect to be elite," Haack said. "Coach (Todd) Graham talks about it every day. Be elite dominant playmakers. That's the expectation."
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Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow @Tonis_The_Tiger on Twitter.
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