Illini punter Santella hopes to leave OSU hanging

CHAMPAIGN -- According to the NCAA stats, No. 2 Ohio State ranks ahead of Illinois in virtually every category that matters.

Rushing. Passing. Scoring. Offense. Defense. Turnover margin. Kick returns.

Basically, the Buckeyes are superior in everything except punting.

That's where the extraordinary improvement by senior punter Anthony Santella, a 2006 Wauconda High School graduate, gives the Illini their only distinct advantage in Saturday's Big Ten opener at Memorial Stadium (11 a.m., BTN).

Santella ranks second in the country with his 48.9 yards per punt. Even more important, Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in net punting (43.3 yards per kick).

Santella averages 9.5 more yards per punt and the team nets 9.6 more yards per punt than his first three seasons as Illinois' punter.

How has this happened?

In a roundabout way, Santella's high grade-point average has helped to boost his punting average.

The academic all-Big Ten pick wrapped up his degree in sport management during the summer. That means he's spending the fall pursuing a master's degree online. With his time more flexible than during his undergrad days, Santella approached strength coach Lou Hernandez about filling some of those hours with bonus workouts.

"I do a lot of extra hip and lower back workouts to keep my legs fresh," Santella said.

Then there was the extra time spent making tiny changes to his technique.

"A little tweaking with the drop and definitely taking shorter steps," Santella said. "When you start lunging, your form goes pretty bad. And my get-off times are a lot better this year a lot more consistently fast because Zak puts the ball right where it's supposed to be."

Coach Ron Zook, who oversees the punt team, also is quick to credit new long-snapper Zak Pedersen.

Zook granted the sophomore from Joliet Catholic a scholarship at the end of fall camp. Pedersen has lived to his end of the bargain.

"I always try to put the ball right on his right hip," Pedersen said. "Obviously it's not always going to be there, but that's what I strive for.

Coach Zook stresses that as long as I'm not moving Anthony right or left, that's a big plus.

"I would say I put it between the box between his hips and the top of his numbers most of the time. At least, I like to think so."

"With Zak Pedersen, it helps. With our coverage, it helps," Santella said. "You can take your time, get the ball off and you have (gunners) like Jarred Fayson and Ashante (Williams) running down there. Heck, even the big guys in our shield, they're running to cover, too.

"All-around, it's just a great group of guys that are contributing to helping me out."

If Santella maintains his improvement throughout the course of his senior year, then he'll be a candidate for one of the 32 NFL punting spots.

Realizing how infrequently those jobs turn over, though, Santella has formulated a backup plan in his former No. 1 sport.

Santella played a mean midfield and defense for Palatine's Sockers F.C. as well as Wauconda High School (where he had 22 goals and 33 assists in less than two full seasons) before two surgeries on his left knee and three on his right knee forced him to focus on football.

"In the summer, I did my internship with U.S. Soccer, which was a phenomenal experience," Santella said. "I got to travel to Florida, L.A., North Carolina and help out with their development academy.

"But still, when I was there, I was getting up two hours early to get into the weight room."

While the extra lifting helps with football now, Santella's internship experience reawakened a dream to participate in the sport he used to believe was his "ticket."

"I really think I can go back and play and pick up where I left off," Santella said. "Lou did such a great job with me. I've put on 30-40 pounds and I just feel great."

Booming up the charts

Fourth-year Illinois punter Anthony Santella and his mates on the punt-coverage team have turned one of the program's recent weaknesses into its biggest strength.

YEAR Punt Avg. Nat'l rank Net Avg. Nat'l rank

2010 48.9 yards 2nd 43.3 yards 4th

2009 41.3 50th 35.9 58th

2008 39.4 75th 31.6 113th

2007 37.7 100th 33.1 91st