NATCHITOCHES – Newcomer Kevin Shief has won Northwestern State's punt returner job while three-year backup Nic Russo has earned the starting punter's role for Thursday's season opener in Turpin Stadium against Delta State, head coach Bradley Dale Peveto said Saturday.

Shief, a 5-10, 168-pound walk-on sophomore receiver from New Orleans-West Jefferson, has impressed coaches catching passes and fielding punts from the outset of preseason camp. Russo, a junior from Grand Prairie-South Grand Prairie (Texas), has a leg up on true freshman signee Andy Wickman, said Peveto.

“Russo has been the most consistent punter in camp and he's been through it before, and he's earned it with a lot of hard work this summer and in camp,” said Peveto, who said he OK'd the recommendation of special teams coordinator Brendan Farrell. “Wickman has a great leg and will be very good for us, but he's like most true freshmen, he's not quite ready yet and just needs to settled in and gets more consistent. He's still battling to be our punter.”

Shief will get first shot at the punt return role, where nobody is back for 2011 who returned a punt last season.

“Two things you want back there is the ability to make the first guy miss, and of course, good hands to catch the ball. Shief's had the best hands of anyone we've got in camp, and he can run. He's earned this shot,” said Peveto.

Junior receiver Phillip Harvey, Shief and junior safety Jamaal White will be the Demons' three kickoff returners. Harvey has handled that role for two years and has a career 21.4 average on 47 returns, 23 shy of the school record 70 by Dennis Smith from 1986-89. Smith also holds the career yardage record with 1,642 on kick runbacks.

White, the Demons' starting safety, will be making his debut returning kicks at NSU.

“One, he's got good hands. Two, he's fast and three, he's physical. He's a bigger guy and he's tough to bring down. A lot of times the return guys are smaller and can be arm tackled. Not in Jamaal's case,”  said Peveto.

Junior placekicker John Shaughnessy will retain his kickoff duties as well as handing field goals and extra points. He did all three last season.

“His placement is great. He's had the strongest leg out there as well,” said Peveto. “He did a very good job last year when we were the best in the Southland Conference at kickoff coverage.”

The Demons worked out for two hours Saturday morning on the game plan for Delta State. NSU will practice again Sunday afternoon at 3:40.