The Browns are only days away from the beginning of training camp. To prepare for training camp, associate editor Kelsey Russo and staff writer intern Noah Monroe are putting together a preview for each position on the roster. Catch up on other position previews on the quarterbacks, defensive line, offensive line, linebackers, wide receivers, cornerbacks, tight ends and safeties. Let's wrap up with the specialists.

The Specialists:

K Dustin Hopkins
K Andre Szmyt
LS Brent Matiscik
LS Rex Sunahara
P Corey Bojorquez

What we know: The Browns return their core group of specialists in P Corey Bojorquez, K Dustin Hopkins and LS Rex Sunahara from the 2024 season, while also bringing in some competition for camp in K Andre Szmyt and LS Brent Matiscik. Sunahara spent time with the Browns ahead of the 2024 season before he was released from the practice squad in August. He was then signed to the active roster in October after LS Charley Hughlett was placed on injured reserve. He then played 12 games and the three of them built chemistry as a unit over the course of the season.

They used the OTAs and minicamp practices to continue getting reps in as a unit, working on timing and making sure they are all on the same page as a unit. Hopkins and Bojorquez have spent the last two seasons together and understand one another's spots on the field and where they are going to set up for kicks. They've brought Sunahara into the fold to have him understand those same factors.

"It's good to have competition at every position as long as the roster can handle it," assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said during minicamp. "We felt like at that position we needed to have some competition. Obviously snapping is a big evaluation of that position. Ability to protect, ability to cover all those things will factor into making a decision on that."

As the specialists enter the 2025 season, they will rely on that level of chemistry and understanding as a unit to excel in the kicking game.

The biggest question: Will Hopkins bounce back from the 2024 season in which he struggled in the kicking game? After a stellar 2023 season in which Hopkins made 33 of 36 field goals and earned a three-year extension in the 2024 offseason, he struggled in 2024 making just 18 of 27 field goal attempts. Prior to last season, he had a three-year streak of making 88 percent or more of his field goal attempts, including 90 percent in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Yet, Hopkins has his focus on putting his best efforts forward in 2025.

"It's another opportunity and I don't ever take those for granted," Hopkins said.

The biggest number: 0. The number of botched snaps from Sunahara. Often overlooked in the game of football, long snappers have a very small margin of error. If a punter can't get a hold of the snap on a field goal attempt or a punt, that's points potentially being given to the other team. This makes it even more important for the long snapper to make sure he's giving the punter a ball he can handle, something that Sunahara managed to do every time last season.

"We're obviously relying on each other, like I have to have a great snap, a great hold and then I have my end to hold up," Hopkins said.

The X-Factor: Bojorquez. In 2024, Bojorquez led the league with 4,387 punt yards and excelled at pinning opposing offenses in tough positions to start their drives. In the last two seasons, he has finished in the top five in the NFL in punts inside the 20. In the 2024 season alone, he finished with 36 total punts inside the 20 and 16 punts inside the 10, which also lead the league in the category.

Says it all: "I think that he's been consistent in his entire career. He really has. He had a great year in '23, for whatever reason, did not have a great year this past year. I think that he's put it to bed. As long as the player is focused on the task at hand and I think that he's done that with his preparation. He's in really good shape. He's lean, he's strong. Really don't see any changes in his kicking mechanics, ball elevation, anything. So, I feel like he's in a good spot." – Ventrone on Hopkins

How many were kept on the initial 53-man roster in 2024: 3