Saturday’s home opener for the Jacks against No. 12 Incarnate Word will be Dustman’s 50th career game and 32nd in a row handling all three responsibilities.
BROOKINGS — Hunter Dustman stands out in the world of special teams.
As the placekicker, punter, and kickoff specialist for the top-ranked FCS football team, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, he’s entering his third year managing all three roles.
His uniqueness is clear to both his coaches and teammates.
“He’s not your typical specialist,” said SDSU coach Jimmy Rogers of the fifth-year senior. “He’s dedicated to his craft. I’ve worked with many talented kickers who struggle after a miss, but he’s different. He treats kicking as an art form.”
In a position often filled with uncertainty for college teams, Dustman provides reliability for SDSU. This Saturday, during the home opener against No. 12 Incarnate Word, he will celebrate his 50th career game and his 32nd consecutive outing managing all three duties.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the coaches, the game plan, and everyone being prepared for game day,” Dustman shared. “What I do isn’t too daunting when there’s trust in me. I genuinely enjoy fulfilling all three roles for the team.”
This will mark Dustman’s fourth season as the team’s full-time punter, a role he took on in 2021. After Cole Frahm graduated before the 2022 season, Dustman took on kickoff and placekicking responsibilities as well. He noted that juggling these three roles has become easier since he learned to manage his repetitions, similar to how a pitcher adheres to a pitch count.
“It’s definitely easier now. I used to believe that more practice was better, but that’s not the case,” Dustman explained. “Since I’ve been in the program longer, it’s just gotten smoother.”
Last season, Dustman converted 18 of 24 field goals, with a long of 49 yards, and made 68 of 70 extra-point attempts, setting an SDSU record for most extra points in a season. He ranks fourth in SDSU history with 39 career field goals, trailing Chase Vinatieri, who has 47 in third place.
In the 2023 season, he averaged 43.5 yards on 34 punts, with 18 being placed inside the 20-yard line. His career punting average stands at 42.5 yards, and he averaged 48 yards on three punts during the season opener against Oklahoma State.
Dustman believes punting is the area where he has made the most significant strides, along with the improvements made by his teammates in covering punts.
“I feel like the punt unit has consistently improved at seizing opportunities and executing during games,” he said.
SDSU’s long snapper, Kayden Olivia, also deserves credit for enhancing their performance. As a dedicated long snapper, he doesn’t split time with other positions, allowing him and Dustman to develop a strong partnership for field goals and punts.
“I think Kayden Olivia is one of the best long snappers in the country. Having a specialist focused solely on long snapping is a big advantage,” said coach Rogers. “For years, we didn’t have that, so having a full-time snapper who delivers the ball at an NFL level is crucial.”
While Dustman’s ability to handle all three roles may be uncommon in FBS or FCS schools, he doesn’t dwell on this uniqueness. For him, it’s about fulfilling the commitment he made when he was recruited by former coach John Stiegelmeier back in 2020, coming from St. Francis, Minnesota.
“All I’ve aimed for in my five years is to maximize every kick possible,” Dustman stated. “With the trust my coaches have in me, it feels great when the whole team performs well. I don’t focus on my stats; a win is a win, and then we move on to the next kick.”
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