Northern Exposure Specialists Camp: Standouts
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ST. CLOUD– A few weeks back, I headed over to St. Cloud State to the Huskie Dome and scouted my first ever specialist camp. It was a fantastic experience to see some of the Midwest’s best specialists square off in competitions, etc. These are some notes on some of the standouts from the Northern Exposure Specialists Camp put on by Chris Husby of The Special Teams Football Academy and National Kicking Rankings.
Parker Dahlman, Punter, Blaine (MN) (2021)
Dahlman showed off a big booming leg on his kickoffs in the Huskie Dome. He won the competition with the best hang time and length on his kicks. Dahlman was a near-perfect 100% on PATs in his senior season, just missing one. Dahlman also took on the punting duties for the Bengals, hitting at around 35 yards per punt. Dahlman holds one Division II offer from Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Leyton Simmering
Leyton
Simmering
6'1" | 155 lbs | K
Rosemount | 2022
State
MN
, Kicker/Punter, Rosemount (MN) (2022)
Simmering certainly proved how he very well could be the best specialist Minnesota has to offer in the Class of 2022. He finished first in the punting competition with the best length and hangtime and second in field goals giving him the versatility at the next level to potentially play both roles for whatever school he chooses. A whopping 41% of his kickoffs last year were touchbacks, and Simmering in his career as the starting kicker for the Irish is 6/6 on field goals over 40 yards. A Division I specialist in my eyes.
Daniel Jackson, Kicker, Alexandria (MN) (2025)
Jackson was hitting some absolute bombs on his kickoffs, leading the pack from the younger group. The overall winner in the younger group of competitors at the camp is very impressive for an incoming 9th grader. Look for this kid to be a varsity kicker for Alexandria in the years to come.
Jack Meyer Jack Meyer 5'10" | 160 lbs | K Chippewa Falls | 2021 State WI , Kicker, Chippewa Falls (WI) (2021)
Meyer took home the overall trophy for the best kicker/punter in the building for the NKR camp. Meyer placed first in the field goal completion has some of the longest kicks of the day. Meyer also placed second in the punting and kickoff competition. Somehow this big leg of Meyer only holds one NAIA offer and is one of the National Kicking Rankings best available specialists nationwide.
Josh Keller
Josh
Keller
ATH
Prior Lake | 2021
State
MN
, Kicker, Prior Lake (MN) (2021)
Keller didn’t place in the competitions, but I thought he showed off a solid leg on field goals and punting that could be used at the next level as he is still an uncommitted senior. He has a very long kickoff leg that can get inside the 5-yard line. No offers up to this point, which in my opinion is surprising as he looked quite consistent at this year’s camp.
Connor Reynolds
Connor
Reynolds
K
Eden Prairie | 2021
State
MN
, Kicker, Eden Prairie (MN) (2021)
Reynolds won the punting competition at the NKR Northern Exposure Camp and showed off why he one of the best specialists still available in 2021. Another reason why I like Reynolds at the next level has you ever seen a specialist hit like him? Not only just a specialist, but Reynolds also has a great size (6’1, 195) that covered some ground for the Eagles and plays very physical. Reynolds holds one Division II offer from Southwest Minnesota State.
Landon Docken, Fargo South (ND) (2023)
If there is one thing I have learned out the city of Fargo, they can produce some talented specialists, including Landon Docken of Fargo North. Docken took the #1 spot in the younger division in the punting completion and took #2 in kickoffs. Docken is a kid I need to get on my radar now in the Dakotas for the 2023 class.
Keagan Zabilla, Minnetonka (MN) (2024)
With Sebastian Amorrortu Sebastian Amorrortu 5'8" | 170 lbs | K MPLS North | 2022 State MN transferring to Minneapolis North, Zabilla got the varsity reps as just a freshman for Minnetonka. Zabilla placed first in the younger group when it came to kickoffs. Zabilla may have the tools to be a promising specialist coming from the Skippers.
Ian Wilsey
Ian
Wilsey
LS
Mahtomedi | 2021
State
MN
, Long Snapper, Mahtomedi (MN) (2021)
There was not a set competition for long snappers, but in my eyes, Wilsey was the best one at the Nothern Exposure camp. His form was fantastic, and his snapping ability was extremely accurate in the action I watched. He holds two Northern Sun offers until FCS Central Arkansas came thru with his first Division I offer, which in my opinion, Wilsey is certainly a Division I prospect. He also plays linebacker for the Zephyrs.
Ben Jameson, Maple Grove (MN) (2023)
Jameson won the field goal completion at the NKR Northern Exposure Camp. Jameson also has a long leg on kickoffs but could use a little development when it comes to hangtime; keeping the ball higher will also help the special team’s unit swarm whoever is catching the football better.
Kyle Seefeldt, Kicker, Kaukauna (WI) (2022)
Seefeldt was another kicker that stood out in my eyes. Most certainly on his kickoffs, Seefeldt showed some great length despite the 40-degree temperatures in the Huskie Dome, which I learned that the cooler the temp affects the ball travel. Seefeldt also showed length in the field goal competition, hitting kicks in the 50-yard range. A 5-star rated kicker by NKR out of the Fox Valley area.
Luke Ryerse, Hill-Murray (MN) (2025)
The little brother of Minnesota kicker Grant Ryerse. Luke was a top-three prospect from the younger group I watched as just an 8th grader. Won the field goal competition being one of youngest kids from the younger group of kickers. Certainly has potential thru the roof.
