University of North Carolina Athletics
Brewer: Weapon in the Return Game
November 21, 2013 | Football, Featured Writers
by Rick Brewer
CHAPEL HILL -- Opponents may begin avoiding Ryan Switzer as if he had a contagious disease.
After two straight Saturdays of big punt returns, opposing teams will be looking for some way to keep the ball away from him.
Switzer had a 65-yard return for a touchdown in the first half at Pittsburgh last week. Then he brought another punt back 61 yards for a touchdown with just 4:46 to play, lifting Carolina to a 34-27 victory.
He had an 85-yard return for a score the previous week against Virginia.
Switzer is now averaging 18.4 yards on 18 returns. He ranks fourth nationally in punt return average and his three touchdowns on punt returns are the most in the country.
Those three touchdowns in one season are also a school record. Six players had each returned two in one year.
The only other Tar Heel player in history to score twice on punt returns in a game was a 6-5, 285-pund defensive tackle. Andre Purvis recovered two blocked punts in the end zone for touchdowns against Tulane in 1993.
Switzer is just the third ACC player to ever return two punts for touchdowns in the same game. In addition to Purvis, only Miami's Devin Hester has ever accomplished that.
Switzer is quick to point out he's had a lot of assistance on his big plays.
"No one can return a kick without help," said Switzer. "You've got to have guys running and hustling to set things up. They may not get a lot attention, but they work as hard as anyone."
His blockers were in top form at Pitt as they created a wall and opened holes for his returns. Eric Ebron had the initial hit on the 65-yard run. Brian Walker, Mark McNeill, Tre Boston, Ryan Mangum and Damien Washington were among the others who cleared a path down the right sideline. It was Washington who pushed away the final defender.
They were out there again for the winning fourth quarter return. T.J. Liles, Romar Morris, Mangum and Washington screened off defenders as Switzer saw a lane and cut across field to score.
Switzer, a 5-10, 175-pound freshman, has the speed, vision and quickness to be a star in the kicking game. He also has the confidence that a return specialist needs.
"I wasn't listed at the top of the return list on our summer depth chart," he said. "I just made sure I caught every punt in practice. I wanted Coach Fedora to know he could trust me with this job. I've always liked returning kicks and it was a good way to get on the field as a freshman."
It's early in his career, but Switzer should be aware Carolina has had a history of outstanding return artists.
The most famous of them all, of course, was Charlie Justice. Justice wasn't as fast as other top return men, but he had tremendous quickness. He had an amazing ability to change directions while going full speed. It was this talent, plus incredible instincts, which made him so dangerous to opponents. From 1946 to 1949 he was one of the most explosive players in college football. He still holds the school records for both career punt return average (14.2) and kickoff return average (26.6).
Despite those figures, there are some who will tell you that Justice may not have been the top return specialist the school has had. They point to Johnny Branch as the best.
Only 5-6 and with his weight fluctuating between 150 and 165 pounds during the season, Branch was a giant on the football field in the late 1920s. Records are incomplete from those days so it is impossible to totally compile his career statistics. However, he does have the longest punt return in school history (96 yards) and the third-longest (88 yards).
In his time, Branch was certainly one of the best. He was elusive with great field vision. He would head toward a defender, throw a hip in one direction and cut the other way.
Like Justice, he had an ability to know where defenders were and find a seam where seemingly one did not exist.
Comparing players from various eras is impossible because the style of play and the physical ability of players have changed so much over the years.
Brandon Tate and Giovani Bernard have been the best Carolina players at returning kicks recently. Tate set school single-season and career records for touchdowns on kickoff returns from 2005 to 2008. He set the NCAA career record for combined kick return yardage (kickoffs and punts) with 3,523.
Bernard was dazzling as a punt return specialist last season. He returned 16 punts for a 16.4 average and two touchdowns. His 74-yard scoring return in the final seconds against N.C. State may have been the biggest play in the ACC all last year.
Switzer is playing like he wants to be mentioned in that type of company. His problem may be opponents doing everything possible to keep the ball out of his hands.
