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Ryan Niblett's punt return named the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook4 hours agojosephcook89
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Ryan Niblett (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Before Texas’ game versus Mississippi State, it’s fair to wonder if Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian asked Ryan Niblett an important question: are you feeling the cheesiest? Based off Niblett’s 78-yard game-tying punt return, it’s safe to say that, yes, Niblett indeed was feeling the cheesiest, coach.

Cheese! Cheese! Cheese! Cheese!

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Niblett’s punt return was named the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America on Monday. It was his second punt return touchdown of the season, joining a 75-yarder that sealed Texas’ win over Oklahoma. Niblett also had punt returns of 45 and 43 yards versus Kentucky that helped Texas get 10 points it desperately needed for the overtime win in Lexington.

“I just knew something had to be done,” Niblett said postgame. “I feel like I was messing up before the game. I was trying. I was letting it all weigh on me. Coach (Jeff Banks) ripped me on the punt return before that, I cut it up. He was like ‘take the ball to the wall.’ All I did was trust him. I took the ball to the wall and it just opened up for me.”

This year, Texas is No. 2 nationally in average yards per punt return with 25.5 per opportunity. The Longhorns are one of 10 FBS teams with at least two punt return touchdowns, both via Niblett.

Sarkisian has praised Niblett often this year, and even publicly relayed how the program worked to keep Niblett from transferring during the offseason.

He also mentioned Monday that teams are going to tend to avoid Niblett at this point in the year. That’s something Sarkisian said has led to Texas being creative with punt return and even punt block.

“It’s easy to say don’t punt it to him, right? Sarkisian said. “Then you risk the challenge of punting it out of bounds. Are you going to be okay with a 20-yard punt if he doesn’t hit it perfect? People are trying to directional punt, we’re trying to be creative in how we’re rushing punters, blocking people, and doing different things. Credit to Coach Banks for that. That group, in general, confidence is a very powerful thing. That group is very confident. Not just Ryan, all 11 guys are playing a very confident brand of football and they’re maximizing their opportunities.”

As a result of improved special teams, the Longhorns have moved up to No. 57 in special teams SP+ and sit at No. 3 in special teams FEI. Much of those improved standings can be attributed to better punt returns in 2025.

Better punt returns can be attributed to Niblett. Nothing cheesy about that.

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