Skills & Drills | Milo Austin, Elon | Special Teams
May 28, 2025
Milo Austin is the Special Teams Coordinator and Outside Linebackers coach at Elon University, wrapping up his third season with the program in 2024. Before joining Elon, Austin coached at Texas Southern, Delaware State, Morehead State, Glenville State, Cincinnati, Hampton, Midwestern State, the St. Louis Rams, and Lanphier High School. He played Cornerback at both Salisbury and West Virginia.
In this video clip, Coach Austin outlines the finishing techniques he prioritizes for the punt return in his special teams’ unit. He specifically highlights the skills needed at both the top and bottom of the hill, with a focus on the bottom of the hill from a returner’s perspective. These drills will be used with a pop-up dummy simulating the return man.
Punt Return Finish Skills
- Top of the Hill – Focuses on actions at the line of scrimmage.
- Bottom of the Hill – Refers to the work done by the ball carrier in the crucial moment.
- In Phase – Sit and Fit
- Strike the near shoulder, exposing the chest plate, and use your offhand to slingshot. This positions you to move vertically and make a turn to run.
- Out of Phase – High Screen
- Don’t track the defender; move directly to the ball carrier. Once there, club through the defender’s armpit with the near arm, get high, and sit down to establish body contact. Be violent!
- Cut Your Losses, Release, and Find Work
- If you’re beaten by a defender, sprint, then stop and quickly adjust to the next defender. Strike the breastplate with your elbows in tight, creating space for the returner to gain momentum.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Milo Austin is the Special Teams Coordinator and Outside Linebackers coach at Elon University, wrapping up his third season with the program in 2024. Before joining Elon, Austin coached at Texas Southern, Delaware State, Morehead State, Glenville State, Cincinnati, Hampton, Midwestern State, the St. Louis Rams, and Lanphier High School. He played Cornerback at both Salisbury and West Virginia.
In this video clip, Coach Austin outlines the finishing techniques he prioritizes for the punt return in his special teams’ unit. He specifically highlights the skills needed at both the top and bottom of the hill, with a focus on the bottom of the hill from a returner’s perspective. These drills will be used with a pop-up dummy simulating the return man.
Punt Return Finish Skills
- Top of the Hill – Focuses on actions at the line of scrimmage.
- Bottom of the Hill – Refers to the work done by the ball carrier in the crucial moment.
- In Phase – Sit and Fit
- Strike the near shoulder, exposing the chest plate, and use your offhand to slingshot. This positions you to move vertically and make a turn to run.
- Out of Phase – High Screen
- Don’t track the defender; move directly to the ball carrier. Once there, club through the defender’s armpit with the near arm, get high, and sit down to establish body contact. Be violent!
- Cut Your Losses, Release, and Find Work
- If you’re beaten by a defender, sprint, then stop and quickly adjust to the next defender. Strike the breastplate with your elbows in tight, creating space for the returner to gain momentum.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
