Hot Prospect list

Why did we create the Kicking World Hot Prospect List?

For Students: To help specialists get recognized and validated for their abilities and to streamline the college recruitment process.
For Colleges: To provide a reliable source for college football teams to discover legitimate specialists for their program.

How are students chosen for the Kicking World Hot Prospect List?

The minimum criteria to even be considered is that Hot Prospects must have attended at least (1) Kicking World camp and/or at least (2) Private Lessons in one year. No one makes the list unless we see them in person and can personally vouch for their kicking, punting or snapping abilities. Prospects are nominated collectively by the Kicking World staff and Coach Brent makes the final decision on who makes the list. While we see over 1,500 students a year, we only list the best of the best (typically our top 3-5% of specialists). We also list ‘On the Cusp’ prospects which typically includes our top 6-9% of students, who are on the verge of becoming full-fledged Hot Prospects.

What are LEVELS?

We assign a specific level to each prospect that correlates to what level of a college football team we feel their skills most accurately align with. Levels are expressed by NCAA College Football divisions of D1, D2, and D3. We only list D1 and D2 level specialists on our Hot Prospect List. We also list select students as ‘OTC’ for On the Cusp which means they on the verge of becoming full-fledged Hot Prospects, and we’re just waiting for them to put on the finishing touches.

Why don’t you RANK Prospects?

Many camp providers do rankings and we find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to say who would be a #1 kicker vs. #2, etc. Rankings of students are incomplete because they are based on only the students that particular camp provider has seen. So how does one company accurately say one kicker is “the #1 kicker in the country”? The star ranking system is not always an accurate representation of each student’s true ability. It seems that most anyone can receive a 3.5 or 4 star level even without true collegiate prospect ability. This unfortunately saturates college football recruiting lists and makes it difficult for college football coaches to evaluate who the true ‘college recruits’ are. We’ve seen first hand how the kicker star rankings many times create an inflated sense of ability and ego for both the student and parent. This puts them on a path of self-focus and their star ranking instead of maximizing their technique & fundamentals and being the best teammate they can be.

We’ve also discovered that the integrity of some of the ranking lists is not solely based on ability & performance, but in many situations, favoritism comes into play in form of how often you train with that provider, etc. which influences your ranking negatively or positively. As well, students who only attended one camp in middle school for example, and never went to that camp again, but after committing to a major college football team somehow they magically re-appear near the top of that company’s ranking list after the fact.

There are so many students across the world and no one coach sees EVERYONE. So hearing that someone is ranked ___ in the country in our opinion does not hold much weight. We instead choose to provide an assessment of the prospect’s ability and assign them a level based on their performance. However, we do list our Hot Prospect List in an order of Class Year and Best to least best.

What are the factors considered in choosing the Kicking World Hot Prospect List?

We hand pick specialists for our list who demonstrate they have what it takes to play at the next level. Several factors we consider are as follows:

In-Game Statistics
Camp Performance
Winning a Camp Competition
Private Lesson Performance
Track Record of Performance
Consistency
Foot to Ball Contact
Ball Flight
Accuracy
Distance
Hang-Time
Attitude
Hustle
Having a Duplicable Process
Mental Toughness
How you handle Pressure

How is a prospect’s ‘LEVEL’ i.e. (D1, D2, D3) determined?

Your level is determined by your kicking, punting or snapping metrics in conjunction with the factors discussed earlier. What we mean by ‘metrics’ is your accuracy/hang-time/distance for kickers & punters and your accuracy/times/build for snappers. A combination of your metrics from your games played, camp performances and private lesson training are used in calculating your level. We only list D1 and D2 level specialists on our Hot Prospect List.

We also have a level of ‘OTC’ which stands for On the Cusp. OTC students are on the verge of becoming full-fledged Hot Prospects but have some homework to complete first – such as a little more consistency, better ball rotation/flight, or adding hang-time on kickoffs, etc.

Some prospects do not have a ‘LEVEL’ and ‘COLLEGE’ listed, why is that?

We typically assign a Levl to Junior and Senior year prospects, i.e. ‘Upper Classmen’ only. We feel that in 10^th grade or less, a prospect’s true potential has not been reached yet and it would not be completely accurate to assess a level so early. However, we may sometimes assign a Level to standout sophomores & freshmen who clearly exhibit D1 ability! If an underclassman makes our Hot Prospect List, it means we expect big things from that student and they should be on your radar. We also list some students as ‘OTC’ for On the Cusp which means they on the verge of becoming full-fledged Hot Prospects, and we’re just waiting for them to put on the finishing touches. A College is listed when a student has committed to that school.

Can my assessed Level ever change?

Absolutely! Based on your performance at camps, lessons, in games as well as your track record over the long haul, your level may go up or down. Your level has nothing to do with how much money you spend in training with us. Your level is assessed throughout the year based on performance. Prospects may be added or removed to the Hot Prospect List at any time.

Summary

We put our heart and soul into what we do at Kicking World and do our very best at accurately assessing each prospect’s skills based on in-person performance at our camps and lessons. There will be times where a student severely under-performs or dramatically over-performs compared to their actual ability and we may not get an accurate reading of their true level, or overlook talented prospects because they had a bad day. You will be rated based on your performance.

The most accurate way to get assessed at your true level is to have a track record of performance over the long haul and show your consistency at multiple camps, private lessons, and in-game statistics.

Making our list is a very prestigious honor that you should celebrate and share with everyone you know. If you make the #KickingWorld #HotProspectList, we believe wholeheartedly that you have what it takes to play at the next level.

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View Past Prospects

View PRO Prospects

Class	Level	Name	Pos	ST	School	Coach's Comments	College
© Copyright Kicking World, LLC
2022	D1	Robert Gunn III	K/P	FL	Pinellas Park HS	Robert is without a doubt a Power 5 FBS scholarship-ready kicker/punter and the best 2022 kicker in the country. I believe he will be kicking in the NFL one day. He secured 4 early FBS scholarship offers from FAU, Army,...	Clemson University
2022	D1	Buck Buchanan	K/P	TX	Marshall HS	Buck grew a ton since his sophomore year and is almost unrecognizable now. He’s mature, physically fit, and a lot taller/muscular. He has a big leg and hits an excellent flight on his field goals and kickoffs and is one...	Louisiana Tech
2022	D1	Cameron Pope	K/P	WA	Eastmont HS	Cameron had a consistent all-around 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5, and while he didn’t get the outright win on any one competition this year (96 participants) he finished in the Top 5 on both punt events and one of...	Undecided
2022	D1	Julio Macias	K/P	IN	West Noble HS	Julio had a dominating performance at the Kicking World July 17, 2021 kicking camp in Indianapolis where he won the FG comp with a 58 yarder and hit multiple kickoffs 75+ yards with 4.0-4.2 seconds of hang, and even crushed...	Purdue University
2022	D1	Keegan McDermott	K/P	OH	Champion HS	Keegan had an ultra impressive showing, perhaps the best all-around performance of the 96 attendees at our 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 in Austin, TX. He is now listed as a definite D1 Level recruit in the Class of...	Undecided
2022	D1	Tony Sterner	K	TX	Kingwood Park HS	Tony Sterner won BOTH days’ Kickoff events at our 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 in Austin, TX. He is a touchback machine that cranked out multiple 75+ / 4.0+ hang time kickoffs throughout the weekend and even hit a...	University of the Incarnate Word
2022	D1	Bryce Soli	K/P	SD	Harrisburg HS	Bryce was killing kickoffs at our 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 in Austin, TX and he finished #3 Overall in the competitive Day 2 Kickoff Elimination. He also had a great showing earlier this summer at our June 2021...	Bryant University
2022	D1	Lane Feierfeil	K/P	IA	Lewis Central HS	Lane excelled as a punter at our 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 in Austin, TX where he finished #1 Overall on Day 2 Punt Eliminations besting nearly 90 of the country’s top HS punting recruits. He also finished Overall...	Iowa Western
2022	D1	Caden Palmer	K/P	IA	Clayton Ridge HS	Caden had a great showing at our 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 in Austin, TX. He is an all-around solid D1 Level recruit for the Class of 2022. He finished near the top on kickoffs and punts both days...	Northern Iowa
2022	D1	Mark Sayegh	K/P	TX	Westlake HS	Mark finished the season #1 in the entire nation (as per MaxPreps) in most points by kicking with a whopping 124 points via 124/126 PATs (99.2%) and 2/2 FGs! They also won their State Championship game on 12/18/21 in AT&T...	Undecided
2022	D1	Evan O’Connell	K/P	OH	Bishop Ready HS	Evan had a great 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 in Austin, TX, particularly in punting where he finished #1 Overall on Day 1 Punt Charting. He hit a monster 58 yard / 4.41 second punt which substantially helped his...	Undecided
2022	D1	Ian Garcia	K/P	FL	Foundation Academy	Ian Garcia is a very solid punter with a big frame. He played tight end and linebacker for his HS team. Ian came out to our 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 and even though his leg was hurt he...	Mercer University
2022	D1	Adrian Zamudio	K/P	TX	New Waverly HS	Adrian has been a very consistent camper with us over the last 3+ years. He’s done well at every field goal event and recently has been coming on strong with his kickoffs. He’s right in between a FCS/D2 level in...	Western New Mexico
2022	OTC	Mauricio Lopez	K/P	TX	John B Alexander HS	Mauricio Lopez just earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level after a compelling 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5. Mauricio is solid under pressure on field goals and has won...	Undecided
2022	OTC	Nicholas West	K	OH	Medina HS	Nick West just earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level after a compelling 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5. Nick is an excellent field goal kicker and performs well under...	Undecided
2022	OTC	Lucas Burrell	P	CA	Mater Dei HS	Lucas Burrell just earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level after an especially solid Punting outing at our National Showcase on Dec 4-5. Burrell finished #2 Overall on Day 1...	Undecided
2022	OTC	Richard Lozano	P	CA	Madera HS	Richard Lozano just earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level after a solid punting performance at the 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5. He finished Day 1 Punt Charting #4...	Fresno City College
2022	D2	Andrew Nelson	K/P	SD	O'Gorman HS	Andrew is a lefty with good kicking and punting ability. He fared very well at both of his first two appearances with Kicking World in March and June 2020 and really turned up his kickoffs and punts in his most...	Univ of Sioux Falls
2022	D2	Aaron Krinsky	K/P	CO	Pueblo County HS	Aaron has improved immensely in his last 2 camp seasons of training with Kicking World while I’ve been in town for our camps in Denver. He had a good season on both PAT/FG and is hitting kickoffs and punts well...	Colorado St-Pueblo
2022	D2	Jonathan Spurlock	K/P	TX	Bastrop HS	Jonathan has improved immensely in the last year and I’m excited to get him on our List after having trained with KW at our camps and through lessons with me for over 2 years now. He has a big FG/KO...	Texas A&M Commerce
2022	OTC	Lucas Carneiro	K	NC	Community School of Davidson	Lucas has a big leg and was only kicking for one season before earning a 2020 National Showcase invite. He held his own at last year’s national event finishing #8 overall on Day 2 kickoffs hitting several kickoffs in the...	Undecided
2023	D1	Dax Iverson	K/P	UT	Fremont HS	Dax won the very competitive Austin, TX (August 2021) night camp under the lights going a perfect 8/8 through 55 yards and finishing with a 57 yarder to secure the win in a 2-Way tie with a senior. He also...	Undecided
2023	D1	Aidan Bonde	K/P	NC	Southeast Guilford HS	April 2022 update – Aidan is a very polished combo K/P recruit. I see him getting a chance at the FBS level. A couple minor form improvements eliminating his occasional baby draw on field goals, and being able to hit...	Undecided
2023	D1	Michael Calton	K/P	NJ	Manalapan HS	Michael had a great showing at our 2021 National Showcase on Dec 4-5 in Austin, TX where 96 of the country’s best met for a weekend of competitions. He finished #3 Overall / #1 in Class on Day 2 Punt...	Undecided
2023	D1	Joel Garcia	K/P	WA	Fife HS	June 2022 update – Joel is the real deal and fully D1 ready on punts and kickoffs, and has shown some great field goals when he’s hot. He has the leg strength and consistency to be a day 1 FBS...	Undecided
2023	D1	Braxtyn Green	K/P	FL	Suwannee HS	Braxtyn attended the 2021 National Showcase in Austin, TX on Dec 4-5 but was dealing with an aggravated hamstring all weekend. He toughed it out without one complaint and didn’t make any excuses, but it was obvious he was off...	Undecided
2023	D2	Maxx Lawton	K/P	VA	Midlothian HS	Maxx won field goals at our October 2021 Charlotte camp and earned his 2nd appearance to the National Showcase, attending Dec 4-5 here in Austin, TX. While he didn’t finish at the top of his class for anything this time...	Undecided
2023	OTC	Aidan Battle	K	KS	Atchison HS	2021 National Showcase Update – Aidan attended his 2nd National Showcase and while he didn’t finish at the top of any events this year he held his own. He’s a pretty solid Class of 2023 kicker that’s at a minimum...	Undecided
2023	OTC	Brady Peterson	K/P	WA	Emerald Ridge HS	Brady is a dynamite punter and he earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level and his profile will be updated based on future performance. We’ve only seen him once in...	Undecided
2023	OTC	David Perez	K/P	WA	Auburn Riverside HS	David just earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level and his profile will be updated based on future performance. Students listed as an ‘OTC’ typically have shown promise at our...	Undecided
2023	OTC	Caden Smith	K/P	CO	Legend HS	Caden is a young sophomore who has a TON of potential. I’ve evaluated him at 3 different camps over the last 2 camp seasons, and he and his dad drove out from Denver to Austin for 3 days of training...	Undecided
2024	D1	Clayton Amaya	K/P	TX	Smithson Valley HS	June 2022 Update – Clayton is hands down the best Class of 2024 kicker in the country. He’s excellent at 6 of the 7 university run camps he’s attended so far this summer winning both field goal and kickoff events...	Undecided
2024	OTC	Ethan McBee	K/P	OK	Poteau HS	Ethan was the big surprise of our 2021 National Showcase to the coaching staff, but not to me. They saw that he’s tall and slender and didn’t think he’d have the oomph, but I was chuckling on Day 2 when...	Undecided
2024	OTC	Alex Allemang	K/P	KS	Emporia HS	2021 National Showcase (Dec 4-5) update – Alex has the potential to be a top-notch kicker. When he hits the ball pure it sounds so good, like a bomb going off. As a freshman I think he was way ahead...	Undecided
2024	OTC	Trevor Henkle	K/P	IN	Zionsville Community HS	Trevor Henkle just earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level and his profile will be updated based on future performance. Students listed as an ‘OTC’ typically have shown promise at...	Undecided
2025	D1	Joseph Collins	K/P	FL	Harmony HS	March 2022 Update – Joseph is the real deal and currently sits atop our Class of 2025 kickers after having a dominating March 12-13 Orlando camp performance where he won all 3 younger group events and was the Overall FG...	Undecided
2025	OTC	Daniel Jackson	K/P	MN	Alexandria Area HS	Daniel had a solid Day 2 at our 2021 National Showcase in Austin. He finished tied for Overall Runner-up in the grueling 2 hour long Field Goal Elimination battle. He went a perfect 7/7 from 35L, 35R, 40L, 40R, 45M,...	Undecided
2025	OTC	Noah Kalberer	K/P	TX	Vandegrift HS	Noah just earned a spot on the Kicking World Hot Prospect List as an OTC (on the cusp) level and his profile will be updated based on future performance. Students listed as an ‘OTC’ typically have shown promise at our...	Undecided