Kickers/Punters

[futbol20]

Who are the best Kickers and punters in the Middle Tennessee area, or even just all around the state? Also tell which year they are if you know.

[futbol20]

I heard Brentwood's kicker, Brian Davis, was pretty good; appearantly he improved alot over the offseason

[MtneerEagle]

Karns has a kicker that was impressive last week. He had 2 of 3 kickoffs for touchbacks and he kicked an extra point that would have been good from 45 yds. Tall and lanky. Solid.

[ws6transam30]

Powell's Kicker is only a Sophmore, but was 4 for 4 on extra points, 1 of 2 on Field Goals (the one that missed went over right upright of goal post). He had an effective onside kick, recovered by a teammate, and all but 1 kickoff at or near the 5 yard line. Guess that is not to bad for his first Varsity football game.

[bristolviking]

Tennessee High has a 4 star kicker (Tyler Graham) who competed in a national competition this summer. Finished 27th in field kicking accuracy. Overall ranked 87th in the country (Kohl's). Won the Atlanta Punting camp contest earlier this summer. Ranks as a 3.5 star punter. THS opens with East Friday night.

[billybee]

Please don't put too much emphasis on those camp "rankings", they mean very little to nothing to college coaches---they will all tell you the same thing, they want to see a kid "put it on tape"--they want hang time over distance on punts, and kickoffs for that matter, they want to see game tape of FG's made for distance, and kicks made under pressure--TAPE beats a "ranking" anytime

[GoingtoRightField]

My son's team beat Father Ryan last week, but let me tell you -- their kicker BOOMS the ball. I'm talking serious leg. Not sure of his longterm accuracy but he was 2/2 on XP and 2/2 on FGs -- all of those would have cleared 45-50 yards easy.

 

All 5 of his kickoffs were touchbacks. All 5.

[Irish423]

In my opinion, Catholic has one of the best kicking/punting units in the state. (Of course I'm biased) They have an extra point kicker who went 4 for 4 against Rhea and was very consistent last year (Jarod Julies) A soccer player for the kickoff and long field goals- (0-1 on a short field goal from the left hash) against Rhea but 3 touch backs and a squib kick. Has 1 career start in high school football. Last year while at a baseball game, I noticed this kid putting them through the uprights from 60, yes 60 yards out. The punter is a special kid-6'8" spencer roth. This kid puts the up for a long time and can cover a lot of distance. Overall, very well rounded on special teams.

 

Cisco Carter!?! how has no one mentioned him yet? Won both the kickoff and punt contest at the jamboree and has an incredible leg. (Bearden for those that don't know)

[BigAir]

By "best kicker" I'm going to assume the thread is about those with the most current ability and future potential.

 

Corey Acosta - Christian Brothers Memphis 2010: Consistent, not a huge leg by college standards.

Nick Pollard - Father Ryan 2010: Serious distance.

John Long - Ooltewah 2010: Great all around kicker who like the others has worked hard.

Zach Sharp - Maryville 2011: 71 yd. KO avg. in 1st game. With 2 seasons left, holds Maryville all-time

record for field goals, never missed from inside 40. Missed one PAT in 3 years.

 

BillyBee - to respond directly to your post about kickers, rankings, and what coaches look for: I think you've hit on the rub. First, most folk have little idea how to evaluate a kicker, and which aspect of the kicking game should get more consideration. You mention that the ranking services shouldn't be taken seriously, but kids that really work hard at kicking have to go somewhere for instruction as well as help in the recruiting process. So the campsranking services become a kind of middle man (effectiveness, cost, etc could be very much debated) that are an attempt (imperfect for sure) to match the skills of kids from the Atlantic to Pacific.

 

That said, what college coaches say they are looking for a combination of the following:

 

Someone who can consistently hit kickoffs from a 1" tee that get in the neighborhood of 4.0 hang time or better. The farther beyond a 60 yard avg. the better. Beyond 70 preferred, but not at the expense of hang time.

 

Someone who has a demonstrated ability to very consistently make FG's from 45 yards and in off the ground. Some kids never really make the transition from 2" block (high school). If a kicker can demonstrate this ability, it takes some guess work out for college coaches. Great fun to hit from 65, but few coaches will give that opportunity in an actual game.

 

Someone who is a model citizen, can basically coach himself (because few teams have coaches who really understand the mechanics of kicking), and will raise the overall GPA of the team.

 

Forget extra point stats - it's assumed you'll hit them all. Forget also the kicker with the huge but undisciplined and inconsistent leg. Coaches want to know what they can constistently expect from their kickers - in real game situations.

[Navydiver07]

Station Camp's kicker Matt Hinricher Booted a 41 yarder last night against Siegel.

[Irish423]

cisco carter from 47 @ jeff co.

[Torch]

I think hands down Ben Ogle from Greeneville would be the best kicker. He is only a sophomore, but kicks it about 8 yards deep into the endzone on kickoffs and can kick a field goal of about 40-50 yards. GHS lost to Sullivan South last night, but ask them about Ogle.