XFL Memphis Maniax Press Release 8


 
Maniax Press Release 8
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New Punt Return Rules Do Not Phase Prentiss
Maniax to Hold First Scrimmage on Saturday

Most football fans in the southeast – in fact, most fans in the country – probably remember former Mississippi State wide receiver and return specialist Kevin Prentiss for one play. That was the electrifying 83-yard, fourth-quarter punt return that briefly put the Bulldogs ahead of eventual national champion Tennessee, 14-10, in the 1998 SEC title game. For a few minutes, before the Volunteers rallied to keep their national title hopes alive, it looked like Prentiss and his MSU teammates would throw further havoc into the BCS picture only hours after both unbeaten Kansas State and UCLA had lost for the first time.

Prentiss and long runbacks were no strangers to fans in the southeast. He was part of a big play Mississippi State attack that helped propel Jackie Sherrill’s Bulldogs into the national spotlight. Now Prentiss is trying to make his impression with the Memphis Maniax of the XFL after a couple of brief appearances in NFL training camps with the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts.

Prentiss is vying for playing time as a wide receiver with the Maniax and also will figure prominently on the club’s special teams. The new XFL punt return rules – no fair catches and a live ball after 25 yards – don’t phase the 5-7, 155-pound native of Vicksburg, Miss., who has been a little man in a big man’s game his whole life.

“The new rules won’t affect the way I approach my job as a punt returner,” said Prentiss. “Since the coverage team can’t leave until the ball is kicked, the no fair catch rule starts to even out. Even if they kick it high and short, they still have to give me a five-yard window. I really won’t feel any extra pressure. I catch the ball pretty well and never really think much about fair catching it anyway.”

Prentiss likes the role of return man best among the many that he has played in his football career. “On punt returns, I’m all by myself. I’ve always been small and when I get my hands on a punt, I have the chance to show everyone what I can do. It doesn’t take a lot of size to run back kicks. I try to take advantage of my speed and quickness. It’s a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to the chance to run back kicks for the Maniax.”

Prentiss, though, won’t get his chance to run back kicks in Saturday’s first team scrimmage of this month-long training camp. The Maniax will run approximately 60 plays from scrimmage on Saturday, with a special focus on third-down situations. It will be a controlled scrimmage, but a very important measuring stick for the 70 players in the Maniax camp.

“We have a lot of great competition going on at every position,” said Head Coach Kippy Brown. “The coaching staff is looking forward to Saturday’s scrimmage and then getting the chance to break down the tapes and evaluate all of the guys. Our first three days of double sessions have been very productive and I think that will show in Saturday’s scrimmage.”

The Maniax will have just the one workout on Saturday after three straight days of twice-daily workouts. The club will also practice once Sunday with a return to two-a-days on Monday.







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