Notes: State of Stanford's special teams

Stanford returns all of its starting specialists from the 2015 season (sans deep snapper Reed Miller), but there's still plenty of competition in the Cardinal's training camp.

Cardinal Sports Report caught up with Stanford special teams coach Pete Alamar to break it all down.

Fifth-year senior kicker Conrad Ukropina is looking to build on a nearly flawless 2015 campaign in 2016. Expectations will be even higher for the Southern California native who converted 18 of 20 field goals last year.

"The biggest thing for Conrad was to reset his goals," Alamar said. "He had great success and just to know that, 'If I attain a certain level then I have to reset.' And he did a great job of hitting the rest button. His leadership in the group has been phenomenal, especially with all the young guys we've got. But he's just taken on a whole different way about how he goes about his business and works. Obviously he's looking to set the bar even higher. And for that, he's mad about the two kicks that he missed."

Junior C.J. Keller will handle snapping duties on field goals and point after tries, but there's still a competition to see whether Keller or true freshman Richard McNitzky will be given punt snapping responsibilities.

"We're still working it," Alamar said. "It's going to work possibly into the first of the week. C.J. is set to handle our short snaps for sure. Richard and C.J. are competing for the punt snapping job. And both of those guys have certain strengths about them, things that they do well. And they both have things that they're working on to get better at. But I feel good about where they have both progressed. Both guys have really made big strides in camp."

Jake Bailey and Conrad Ukropina's competition for kickoff responsibilities has continued on from the 2015 season into training camp.

"You have Jake and Conrad, who both have experience," Alamar said. "We'll probably kick through the mock game and maybe into Monday before we decide for sure. But I feel comfortable with both of those guys kicking off at some point in the season right now. Conrad has worked very hard to try to improve that part of his game, which was never a bad part of it, anyway. Jake has a big kickoff leg. Jake has worked very hard at trying to harness his energy, try to keep it between the lines a little more consistently. And he's really done a nice job of that, too. He has done a nice job of working through the offseason and with what he's shown in fall camp. He's been very consistent and very accurate with where he's putting the ball."

Bailey is also involved in a close competition for the punting job. Last season, the Santa Fe Christian High School product shared the position with Alex Robinson. (Bailey was used as a situational punter, often inside the opponent's 50-yard-line.)

Alamar is uncertain which punter will have the upper hand in 2016, but he's confident about the quality of the position group.

"The good news is we have two punters that can punt in the Pac-12," Alamar said. "The bad news is you can only put one of them on the field at one time. Both of those guys are Pac-12 punters, and that bodes really well for us. Who's the guy that trots out first? TBD. We'll find out. But, again, I'm glad to have them both. I feel comfortable with both of them. Their operation times are great. They're both doing good things. And when push comes to shove, we've charted everything, we'll break it down and figure out who gets the first shot at it, but knowing that we've got two guys that we feel really good about."

Christian McCaffrey is expected to play a key role on both punt return and kickoff return again in 2016. But there are some intriguing options behind him if the Cardinal wants to give the Heisman Trophy runner up a rest.

"The anticipation in the kick return area was Bryce Love is a guy that can do it," Alamar said. "Michael Rector has had a phenomenal camp as a kick returner for us. He has a nice feel for the return game and obviously has good speed. He's caught the ball and has made good decisions."

"Punt return wise, really two guys behind Christian: Trent Irwin, which makes sense. He tracks the ball well as a receiver. He has great hands and it translate to the punt return game. And then Jay Tyler. Both of those guys have worked really hard, and I feel good about the two of them backing Christian up in punt return."

Stanford added a pair of kickers to its program as part of the 2016 class: Jet Toner and Collin Riccitelli. They also return redshirt freshman Charlie Beall, who joined Stanford's team last year.

Toner has the ability to punt and kick at a high level, but he's been focused on kickoffs and field goals/PAT's this camp. Beall has spent more time honing his kicking skills, but he has done some punting. Riccitelli, meanwhile, is purely a kicker.

"What we've done with Jet is we've brought Jet it and Jet has worked strictly on kickoffs and field goals and extra points right now," Alamar said. "He obviously has the punting in his background, too. He is a pure combo guy. He has a tremendously explosive leg. So right now we're just working one area, not trying to overwhelm him in any one area, just trying to bring him along and to get the timing and what it takes from a timing standpoint on our extra points and field goals, and then we'll start to work on the punt area of his game too. But really pleased with him - the ball jumps off the foot just as we felt. He has a tremendous leg and we'll try to harness the energy and get it going on a good sense of timing with what we're doing, but he's done a nice job. He had a good camp."

"Charlie Beall, our walk-on kicker from last year, has really made strides this year. And now we have Collin Riccitelli, too. And Collin's a little bit like a young Conrad. That's probably the way I'd put it. He has a really repeatable stroke just like Conrad. There are things he's working on, but he's a guy that, shoot, we're glad to have him. I think he's a good kicker. I think he's going to do good things. I think he's got a lot of ability."