2023 Kickers Who Don’t Get Enough Credit

Chris Norcross

May 10, 2022 @ 12:00 PM

Without a doubt, kickers are some of the most underrated players in all of sports. The pressure to be consistent is ridiculously high, and the desire for immediate results in crazily pressured moments is different than any other sport. They tend to have a short leash, resulting in some of the more difficult challenges in all levels of play. All of this, and they still do not get the respect, and credit that they deserve. Specifically, within the state of Georgia, being a kicker is more pressured than most people may think. Reputable programs all across the state are continuously in a place of competing at the highest level each season. Because of this, teams find themselves going down to the wire, needing a game winning field goal, or automatic extra-points throughout the duration of the game. Because of this we wanted to give a shout out to some of our favorite kickers in the state of Georgia within the 2023 class, as they deserve more credit than they have received to this point. Isaac Bonacci- Collins Hill Out of the various players in his position group throughout the state, not only does Bonacci face a tremendous amount of pressure each season, but he manages to perform to expectations. Out of 15 field-goal attempts he had last season, he managed to hit 13 of them. His longest one included that of a 37 yard kick, which is standard for players his age. We are a bit surprised that he has not received a bit more attention than he already has, but we would not be shocked if he manages to catch the eye of a few programs next season. For Bonacci, consistency will be key next season, which could ultimately put him in place to connect with a few programs at the next level. TJ Hartley-Whitewater In a 12-game span last season, Hartley managed to perform incredibly well, with consistency that was almost unrivaled throughout the state. Out of 11 field-goal attempts last season, Hartley made every single one of them. He appears to have a decently clean stride, and a strong leg as well. It is evident that he takes the time to work on his craft, as well as his follow-through and mechanics. This has been proven by the fact that he managed to kick a 40-yard field goal last season, which is good for his age. Moving forward, we would like to see him continue to develop, and to attend camps to get his name out there to colleges. David Mitchell- Crisp County One thing you may notice about Mitchell is that he has a very strong leg, and he has the ability to hit field goals from various places of the field. Even though this is the case, we would like to see him play more consistently when making attempts. Last season, Mitchell managed to make nine field goals. The issue is that he attempted 17 of them. Regardless, he has plenty of upside and talent, it just needs to be cultivated and groomed. For example, Mitchell managed to hit a 41-yard field goal last season, which is very hard for players his age. Going into 2022, we would like to see him take the time to receive more coaching, and to focus on honing his craft. Drew Campbell- Lassiter In the span of 9 games, Campbell managed to make 9 field goals. His leg strength was on full display, as his longest completed kick last season happened to be 44 yards. It does not even have to be explained how impressive this is, but it can be explained that Campbell’s leg strength, and ability to kick a football needs to be groomed a bit better. Out of 13 attempts last season, he only made 7 field goals. While his extra points were a bit better, it is evident that he is very raw, and that he has plenty of room for development, growth, and Improvement. Next season, we have no doubt that he will be one of the best kickers in his region, but we would like to see him take the next steps forward in his progression.