2018 Kicking World All-America Team Released
On Friday, January 18, 2019, Coach Brent Grablachoff announced the 2018 Kicking World All-America Team, touting the best kickers & punters in the nation for the 2018 football season. Our 2018 All-America Team is comprised of 11 students (5 Hot Prospects) from Class Years 2019, 2020, and 2021 representing 7 states – Texas, Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, and Virginia. There were stellar performances throughout the 2018 football season and it took us some time selecting this year’s All-Americans. We are proud of all our students. We look forward to seeing everyone during the 2019 Kicking World camp season, which starts next month! View this year’s All-America team in a list view and read below for full details on each 2018 All-American and contact info for press/media and college coaches.
2018 KICKING WORLD ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Kickers
Steven Opella – Reagan HS, Texas (Senior)
Steven was 10/11 on FGs (91%) with a long of 46 yards and 43/44 PATs along with a 23/46 (50%) kickoff touchback ratio. The senior Hot Prospect only missed 2 PATs – 85/87 (98%) and 1 FG – 19/20 (95%) in his 2 years on Varsity proving his consistency over the long haul.
Dillon Williams – Pleasant Grove HS, Texas (Senior)
The All-District kicker made 8 of 9 field goals (89%) with longs of 47, 46, 45 yards, and 78/80 PATs (97.5%) for a very consistent senior year kicking campaign.
Joshua Montanari – Theodore Roosevelt HS, Ohio (Junior)
Joshua made an impressive 15 of 16 (94%) field goals, with a long of 42 yards. His sole miss came from 49 yards. The Hot Prospect Junior K/P was tied for runner-up in the 2018 National Showcase field goal event making it back to 60 yards. He shows a college-ready leg, solid in-game & pressure performances, and is offer-ready.
Vito Calvaruso – Helias Catholic HS, Missouri (Junior)
The All-State Kicker strung together 9 of 11 field goals this season with 2 boots over 40. His 2 misses came from 49 and 42 yards. His 42/43 PATs and impressive kickoff touchback ratio of 42/56 (75%) put him in line for All-American honors this season. Vito had a solid Day 1 showing at the 2018 National Showcase and we look for him to put it all together this upcoming season.
Photo of All-American kicker & hon ment. punter Joshua Montanari (Class of 2020 – Theodore Roosevelt HS, OH)
Honorable Mention (K)
Alan Guerrieri – College Station HS, Texas (Senior)
The All-State kicker was a perfect 49/49 on PATs with 5/5 field goals and a long of 42 yards. He also put together 30 touchbacks on 70 deep kickoffs for a 42.8% touchback ratio).
Jefflin Leslie – O’Connor HS, Texas (Senior)
With a game-winning 50 Yard Field Goal and making 8 of 10 attempts, with 36 for 37 PATs the 1st Team-All District kicker capped off a solid senior season.
Jared Zirkel – Tivy HS, Texas (Junior)
The 6’3 kicker hit a 59 Yard FG in game, along with a 48 and pair of 45s along with an insane 63/70 (90%) kickoff touchback ratio. The junior Hot Prospect kicker has proved he has the biggest kicking leg in high school football right now. He had a dynamite 2018 National Showcase winning both days’ kickoff competitions with a daily kickoff average of 75 yards and 3.9 seconds, with a few balls over 80 yards / 4.0+ seconds. Since his 59 Yard in-game field goal this season and outstanding Showcase outing his recruiting interest has rapidly increased and several Division I programs have met with him and we expect multiple offers very soon.
Jorge Figueroa – Las Cruces HS, New Mexico (Sophomore)
The Sophomore kicker from New Mexico kicked 6 field goals including a 49 and 40 yarder. His 42/44 PATs and 40/61 (65.5%) kickoff touchback ratio also helped him earn 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-State this season.
Photo of All-American punter & hon ment. kicker Jared Zirkel (Class of 2020 – Tivy HS, TX)
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Punters
Cayden Camper – Pueblo County HS, Colorado (Senior)
The 6’5 senior Hot Prospect Punter finished off his HS punting/kicking career with an impressive 40.8 yard average. He racked up 1333 yards on 34 punts with 14 downed inside the 20 yard line. He had a dominating punt and kickoff performance at the 2018 National Showcase placing in the top 2 on both events and winning punts overall. He looks to get more offers heading into the final recruiting stretch for HS seniors and should be considered a D1 scholarship level punter/kickoff combo recruit.
Mark Applegate – Oakton HS, Virginia (Senior)
Mark produced very impressive punt statistics pumping out 1784 yards on 33 punts for a whopping 51 yards gross avg (39 net). His long punt was 62 yards with 6 downed inside the 20 and only 1 touchback. He looks to garner some offers heading into February and has shown the potential to be a Division 1 level punter.
Jared Zirkel – Tivy HS, Texas (Junior)
The 6’3 Kicker/Punter recorded 1685 punt yards on 44 punts with a 38.3 net average with a long of 56 yards. Zirkel was a defensive weapon with 18 of his 44 punts downed inside the 20 with zero touchbacks. He also earned Honorable Mention AA kicking honors highlighted by a 59 yard FG.
Honorable Mention (P)
Brendan Sine – Charlotte HS, Michigan (Senior)
The All-Conference Academic Punter put together an impressive 41.6 net yard average on 1164 yards with a long of 54 yards. Of his 28 punts, 7 were downed inside the 20.
Joshua Montanari – Theodore Roosevelt HS, Ohio (Junior)
As if making 15/16 FGs and earning All-American kicking honors this season wasn’t enough, the junior K/P also racked up 1637 yards on 46 punts with a long of 55 yards. He placed 9 punts inside the 20 with only 1 touchback.
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See the list/chart view of every Kicking World All-America Team from 2012 through 2018 and learn exactly how we make our selections.
All students who attend Kicking World camp(s) are eligible to be nominated for that season’s All-America Team. The honor is based mostly on in-game statistics during the specified season. In addition to stats, we evaluate form & technique and verify this and stats by reviewing each entrant’s season highlight video before selecting the Team. To find out more about training with Kicking World or to attend one of our camp(s) this season, visit kickingworld.com.
Press & Media Contacts and College Coaches may contact us directly to run a story or for more information on any 2018 All-American kicker or punter. Press Kit/Contact Info.
