2023 Rankings Overview: Specialists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I will give you some background about how we ranked these specialists before we dive into who are the main 2023 guys you should know about. How I approached ranking the specialists was tough because some of them play other positions on offense and defense while some of them are strictly kickers/punters/long snappers. In order to separate the specialist aspect from their other on-the-field performance players who were projected as specialists at the next level were not ranked in the top 300 of the class of 2023. Instead, they were ranked positionally 1-17 all under position K(Kicker) even though some may be punters. If a player was a good kicker or punter but he projected as an offensive or defensive position at the next level he was not listed as a Kicker/Punter but instead his true position. I think this was the best way to not penalize some Kickers who are not playing in other phases of the game but still properly ranking them amongst their peers. To check out the full rankings of kickers go to our 2023 rankings page and sort by position. From there the rankings are in alphabetical order but if you click on a player's profile it will tell you where he is ranked positionally. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that you have some context there is plenty of talented specialists who will be taking their skills to the next level. Check the guys who you need to be aware of. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Top 2023 Kickers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["232152"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='232152' first='Luke' last='Savino'] ranks as our #1 specialist and for good reason. The Somers kicked 76% of his kickoffs into the endzone and was 59 for 65 on XP this season. The West Virginia commit also was the punter for Somers and had a 41 yard average with 4.0 average hangtime on 28 punts. Savino was also a star RB for Somers but his commitment to West Virginia is as a specialist. Savino was rated a 4.5 start kicker by Kohl's and was noted to have really impressive leg strength and the top performer on kickoffs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["550106"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='550106' first='Nick' last='Reed'] is not only one of the top kickers in New York but he has one of the most impressive legs nationally. Reed was rated a 5-star kicker by Kohls and has a well rounded leg with power and accuracy. This season Reed was 9/12 on FGs with all three misses being blocked, 80% of his kicks were touchbacks and he went 40/41 on extra points. Reed is committed to Buffalo and looks to be in line as a potential starter for UB as they graduate their kicker.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["550355"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='550355' first='Alek' last='Reynolds'], another Buffalo commit, is a great kicker in his own right. However, Reynolds fairly easily is the best punter in New York. Just like Reed, Reynolds could be in line for reps next fall as UB graduates their punter. Reynolds was rated a 4.5 star punter by Kohl's and averaged punts over 45 yards and 4 seconds of hangtime at Kohl's camp. Reynolds has some of the best hangtime on his punts in the state and could transition his success into some first-year reps.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["564955"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='564955' first='Sean' last='O'Neill'] was a fantastic punter for Iona Prep and has one of the most unique talents of any player headed to the next level. O'Neill is an ambidextrous punter meaning that he can kick with either leg. O'Neill is an incredibly talented punter and the New Hampshire commit has elite control over the ball when punting. He is able to put different spins on the ball dependent on situation and has a really tough ball for returners to catch. O'Neill is one of the coolest talents in this specialists class and had no shortage of college interest until he chose New Hampshire.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c8644357d2c"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Top Remaining Uncommitted Specialists</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["550054"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='550054' first='Leo' last='Tallarico'] is actually the 13th ranked Long Snapper in the Country by Kohl's and as a 5 star snapper has picked up an offer from Maine. Tallarico finished 6th in charting at Kohl's National Scholarship Camp and had a really solid average snap time of 0.68 seconds. While the Snapper from CBA-Syracuse already holds an offer from an D1 program you could say that he is one of the most underrated not specialist but players in all of New York.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["550358"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I saw [player_tooltip player_id='550358' first='Shane' last='Delacy'] kick during warmups before the NYCHSFL AA Championship game and the ball comes off his foot prettier than most kickers in New York. Delacy has really solid leg strength and gets really good height on his kicks. Delacy does a really good job with making his kicks tough to block by getting them vertical really quick. Delacy just recently picked up his first offer to kick at the next level from William Paterson University.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["550046"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='550046' first='Preston' last='Wittmeyer'] has a really solid 4.5 star ranking from Kohl's camp and performed well at the camp. During his senior season Wittmeyer made 32/34 PAT's with both of his misses being blocks. Wittmeyer had 9 touchbacks on kickoffs and 3 field goals all over 36 yards. Wittmeyer was also the punter for Brighton and had a long of 51 yards. Wittmeyer is still waiting on his first offer but between his pedigree from Kohl's camp, and his size at 6-2, 210lbs Wittmeyer has the tools and skillset to be a really solid kicker who has a ton of potential at the next level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["569392"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='569392' first='Owen' last='Bishop'], who just recently received his first offer from Alfred University. Bishop is rated a 4-star kicker by Kohl's and has some serious pop in his leg. While Bishop could be a little smoother as a kicker the ball comes off his foot in a way that just stands out when you watch him against other kickers. Bishop does has a really solid leg, and his short area accuracy is very reliable.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c8644357d83"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sleepers You Should Know</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["528699"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='528699' first='Dean' last='Lambros'] is one of the most underrated specialists in New York. The consistency from Lambro's was a just another display of quality from New York's #1 team St. Anthony's. Lambro's has the leg strength to hit from over 40 yards fairly easily and also the leg to get punts with 4 second hang time consistently. I think Lambro's could be either a placekicker or punter at the next level and has the leg strength to develop. One of the most underrated specialists from New York remains without an offer and has plenty of tape warrant being on a roster at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["550356"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='550356' first='Zach' last='Campana'] was ranked a 3.5 star kicker by Kohls and just picked up offers from Edinboro and Alfred. In 2022, Campana went 76/79 on Extra Points and 4/5 Field Goals with 12 Touchbacks. Campana has offers from Alfred University and Edinboro and since his trip to Kohl's camp has really improved his accuracy as a kicker. Campana is a really smooth kicker and I think he is one of the best available kickers remaining.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c874dd4f719"} /-->