Stock Watch: More 2024 Kickers On the Rise
Just like we did last time, we wanted to take some time to recognize some of the top talent at the kicker position across the state of North Carolina. Not only are the few players listed below a bit underrated…
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Continue ReadingJust like we did last time, we wanted to take some time to recognize some of the top talent at the kicker position across the state of North Carolina. Not only are the few players listed below a bit underrated for their position group, but they have a high level of potential that could very well make them rising stars in the coming years. While they still have a few years left in high school, we would like to bet that they have plenty of positive development ahead of them, making them even more fun to track at this current point of time.
Aiden Daughtery- Oak Grove
Impressively, Daughtery, just like plenty of kickers his age across the state of North Carolina, found himself to be a huge part of his offense’s success last season. Not only did he bail his team out of tough situations with 6 made field goals, but he also made around 28 extra points, causing him to finish the season with a total of 46 points. While this is impressive, the fact that he did it in a 9 game span is even more jaw dropping. This allowed Daugherty to finish the season with an average of around 5 points a game, which is exciting for any kicker to know going into his next season. In 2022, expect Daugherty to continue to develop into one of the better kickers in his region, and in the state.
Tucker Batten- Providence Grove
For a 2024 prospect, Batten stepped up to the challenge last season, as he not only totaled 44 points by the end of the season, but he averaged around 4.9 points a game. Yes, you read that correctly. Batten managed to achieve this in a 9 game span, resulting in a very successful season, with a high level of efficiency each time his foot hit the ball. During the season, he proved to kick with good timing, and swung his leg with little wasted movement. By the end of the year, he had a total of 35 extra points, and 3 field goals made.
Gael Moreno- Forest Hills
During the 2021 season, Moreno was also a force for his team when it came to the kicking game, as he not only made a kick in each of his 12 games, but he also finished the season with a total of 44 points. By the end of the season,he had accumulated 35 extra points, and 3 field goals, proving that he was capable of success in various situations for his team. Next season, as he will more than likely see more time, we expect him to take a leap forward in his progression, and to continue to grow in overall leg strength.
Esteban Sanchez- North Henderson
In a 10 game season, Sanchez proved to be a valuable part of his team, as he put up around 42 points for his team last year. In this span, he not only hit 2 field goals, but he managed to make 36 extra points. While we believe in his ability to produce efficiently in field goal situations, we would like to see him continue to develop as an overall player next year, getting under the ball more effectively, and creating more sure fire scores for his team.
Walker Stroup- Mount Airy
Last season, even though he did not score the most points in the state by any means, Stroup was still a highly productive kicker for his team. By the end of a 12 game season, Stroup not only averaged around 3.2 points a game, but he totaled 39 points. All of these points happened to come from PAT’s, proving his efficiency from short range. Going into next year, we would like to see him take on more of a role with field goal kicking, as well as an improved arch, and timing on his kicks.