University of Richmond Athletics
Camp Notebook #4: Specialists
08/14/2024 | Football
Richmond's group of specialists will once again prove to be an invaluable unit heading into the Spiders CAA title defense in 2024.
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The group's veteran, Australian punter Aaron Trusler, returns for his final year of eligibility to cement himself among the nation's best in his position. Last season, the All-CAA and All-America selection punted 63 times for a total of 2,168 yards including a long of 76 yards during Richmond's Capital Cup and CAA championship-solidifying victory over William & Mary. The punt came as the sixth-longest in program history and tied for the longest in the CAA in 2023. His 2023 campaign saw him average 41.6 yards per punt, and punch a career-high 26 inside the 20 yard line while accounting for seven punts over 50 yards. An FCS Punter of the Year semifinalist, Trusler will once again be counted on to keep opposing team offenses away from the Spiders end zone. An ode to his Australian rules football background, Trusler used his legs last season to pick up a first down on a fake punt during the win over Elon. He will also be called on to serve as Richmond's primary holder once again.
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Snapping to Trusler is redshirt junior Brain Catazarite. Catanzarite handled long snapping duties in each game the past two season, taking all but one snap in that time. A Preseason Third Team All-CAA selection by Phil Steele, Catanzarite is formidable tackling threat on punt coverage and is often one of the first players to greet an opposing team's returner.
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Richmond's other long snapper is redhsirt freshman Weston Sharpe, who made his collegiate debut when he handled long snapping duties on a PAT during the Homecoming win over Campbell in 2023.
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Now-redshirt junior kicker Jayden Alsheskie also made his collegiate debut last season— and on quite the stage. He saw his first-ever game action at Michigan State in week two where he connected on two successful PAT attempts.
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Will Mcmanus, who transferred from FBS Illinois prior to the 2023 season, took care of kickoffs in 2023, where he kicked 69 times with 10 touchbacks, recording 3,951 yards for an average of 57.3 yards per kick.
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New to the program but certainly not new to college football is transfer place kicker Brandon Peskin, who joined the Spiders from Fordham this offseason. Peskin arrives to Robins Stadium with a wealth of experience. Last season, he was named First Team All-Patriot League after making good on 14-of-17 field goal attempts, the sixth-most ever in a season by a Fordham kicker. He led the Patriot League and was 15th in the FCS in field goals per game at 1.27 and was 15th in the nation (lead the Patriot League) in field goal percentage at .824. He booted a career-long 45-yarder against Lehigh on the last play of the game to give the Rams the win and was named the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week following the game. Peskin is third all-time in just three seasons at Fordham in PATs with 109 and led the Patriot League in scoring in 2022. He spent his freshman season at FBS Syracuse, where he did not appear in any games.
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And finally, new to the sport of football altogether is Sean O'Haire, who arrives to Richmond from Kildare, Ireland. Similar to Trusler, O'Haire learned the game of American football through an organization in Ireland that teaches the sport to those who have backgrounds in Gaelic football in an effort to land them on college teams in the United States. Prior to Richmond's first practice in full pads, O'Haire had only had football pants on one other time in his life. With a leg that can put the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs, O'Haire will likely spend the season further learning the sport and honing his craft before Spiders cash in on the Irishman's potential. While Trusler is one of the most consistent punters in the country, O'Haire may see time serving as Richmond's backup punter if need be.
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2024 Richmond Specialists
#35 Aaron Trusler (Gr., 5-8, 168)
#34 Brandon Peskin (R-Sr., 6-2, 197)
#36 Sean O'Haire (Fr., 6-1, 180)
#45 Will McManus (R-So., 5-11, 185)
#57 Brian Catanzarite (R-Jr., 5-11, 210)
#58 Jayden Alsheskie (R-Jr., 6-1, 187)
#61 Weston Sharpe (R-Fr., 6-0, 215)
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The group's veteran, Australian punter Aaron Trusler, returns for his final year of eligibility to cement himself among the nation's best in his position. Last season, the All-CAA and All-America selection punted 63 times for a total of 2,168 yards including a long of 76 yards during Richmond's Capital Cup and CAA championship-solidifying victory over William & Mary. The punt came as the sixth-longest in program history and tied for the longest in the CAA in 2023. His 2023 campaign saw him average 41.6 yards per punt, and punch a career-high 26 inside the 20 yard line while accounting for seven punts over 50 yards. An FCS Punter of the Year semifinalist, Trusler will once again be counted on to keep opposing team offenses away from the Spiders end zone. An ode to his Australian rules football background, Trusler used his legs last season to pick up a first down on a fake punt during the win over Elon. He will also be called on to serve as Richmond's primary holder once again.
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Snapping to Trusler is redshirt junior Brain Catazarite. Catanzarite handled long snapping duties in each game the past two season, taking all but one snap in that time. A Preseason Third Team All-CAA selection by Phil Steele, Catanzarite is formidable tackling threat on punt coverage and is often one of the first players to greet an opposing team's returner.
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Richmond's other long snapper is redhsirt freshman Weston Sharpe, who made his collegiate debut when he handled long snapping duties on a PAT during the Homecoming win over Campbell in 2023.
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Now-redshirt junior kicker Jayden Alsheskie also made his collegiate debut last season— and on quite the stage. He saw his first-ever game action at Michigan State in week two where he connected on two successful PAT attempts.
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Will Mcmanus, who transferred from FBS Illinois prior to the 2023 season, took care of kickoffs in 2023, where he kicked 69 times with 10 touchbacks, recording 3,951 yards for an average of 57.3 yards per kick.
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New to the program but certainly not new to college football is transfer place kicker Brandon Peskin, who joined the Spiders from Fordham this offseason. Peskin arrives to Robins Stadium with a wealth of experience. Last season, he was named First Team All-Patriot League after making good on 14-of-17 field goal attempts, the sixth-most ever in a season by a Fordham kicker. He led the Patriot League and was 15th in the FCS in field goals per game at 1.27 and was 15th in the nation (lead the Patriot League) in field goal percentage at .824. He booted a career-long 45-yarder against Lehigh on the last play of the game to give the Rams the win and was named the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week following the game. Peskin is third all-time in just three seasons at Fordham in PATs with 109 and led the Patriot League in scoring in 2022. He spent his freshman season at FBS Syracuse, where he did not appear in any games.
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And finally, new to the sport of football altogether is Sean O'Haire, who arrives to Richmond from Kildare, Ireland. Similar to Trusler, O'Haire learned the game of American football through an organization in Ireland that teaches the sport to those who have backgrounds in Gaelic football in an effort to land them on college teams in the United States. Prior to Richmond's first practice in full pads, O'Haire had only had football pants on one other time in his life. With a leg that can put the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs, O'Haire will likely spend the season further learning the sport and honing his craft before Spiders cash in on the Irishman's potential. While Trusler is one of the most consistent punters in the country, O'Haire may see time serving as Richmond's backup punter if need be.
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2024 Richmond Specialists
#35 Aaron Trusler (Gr., 5-8, 168)
#34 Brandon Peskin (R-Sr., 6-2, 197)
#36 Sean O'Haire (Fr., 6-1, 180)
#45 Will McManus (R-So., 5-11, 185)
#57 Brian Catanzarite (R-Jr., 5-11, 210)
#58 Jayden Alsheskie (R-Jr., 6-1, 187)
#61 Weston Sharpe (R-Fr., 6-0, 215)
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Players Mentioned
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