Arizona State football is making a punting change

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham announced that punter Josh Carlson would not punt against Colorado on Saturday. Carlson is dealing with a foot injury, but will still be the holder. At practice Tuesday morning, walk-on kicker Ian Hershey and walk-on punter Race Mahlum split the punting duties. Mahlum started the punting period with the first team but rotated frequently with Hershey.

Josh Carlson injured for Arizona State football

Punting and flipping the field has been a huge struggle for Carlson and the Sun Devils this season. The former transfer has 19 punts on the season. He’s averaging 37 yards per punt, and his longest punt was 50 yards. To put that in perspective, running back Cameron Skattebo has a 53-yard punt this season. Not a good sign when your running back has the longest punt of the season.

Carlson has only downed one punt inside the 20 this season, as has Skattebo. ASU is 131st in the FBS in net punting. It’s no doubt been an issue, and Dillingham recognizes it.

“The net punt battle is where we’re losing,” Dillingham said. “We have to fix that… Right now a punt battle is minus 15 or 20 (yards), so you may as well go for it.”

Carlson’s potential replacements

So with Carlson’s injury, who’s going to step up on Saturday? Candidate number one is walk-on Race Mahlum. Mahlum, as mentioned earlier, started the punting period of practice this morning.

Mahlum is a redshirt junior who began his college career at Oregon. He never saw the field for the Ducks, and he hasn’t seen the field for ASU… yet. The walk-on also graduated from Mater Dei High School, a known football powerhouse.

The other option is Ian Hershey. Hershey is a walk-on transfer from Idaho State. The sophomore handled all kicking duties last season, including placekicking, kickoffs, and punts. Last season he recorded four punts over 50 yards and had a long of 67.

Whichever player gets a chance this Saturday against Colorado could walk away with the starting job if they have a good enough performance.

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